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There has been a formal garden in this general spot in Halifax since the early 19th century. The Horticultural Society established and opened formal Victorian gardens to the public in the mid 19th Century and the Halifax Public Gardens is deemed a historic site now. The Gardens are open between mid May and the end of October. Thousands of people, both tourists and locals alike, love to come to this little oasis in the city centre to enjoy a warm, sunny, summer day. There are many lovely flower beds and rare trees in the gardens as well as a large duck pond populated with ducks, of course, and a smaller pond where two white swans generally hang out. There is also a little stream near the main entrance, crossed by a small stone footbridge which is very picturesque.
One of the main attractions and photo stops is the red and white gazebo/bandstand in the centre. There are rows of park benches there and there is often a concert on a Sunday afternoon. Summer will see many wedding parties having their photos taken against the beautiful flowers and trees.
You cannot walk on the grass through most of the park but there is an area near one end where you can lay on the grass or let the little ones run around. There are fountains and ponds, flowers and trees.
In 2003, Hurricane Juan did a lot of damage to the Gardens but thanks to contributions, there has been a lot of restoration work done. There are fewer trees than there used to be, but the gardens still look lovely and it's still a great place to come.
There's a small cafe and new toilet facilities by the gazebo and nearby Spring Garden Road has restaurants and coffee shops where you can pick up a snack and a drink and take it into the park to enjoy. Along the fence on Spring Garden Road, craft vendors and artists show and sell their wares as well.
The Public Gardens is located on Spring Garden Road between South Park Street and Summer Street. Any bus that goes down Spring Garden Road will stop there and the free summer city centre shuttle, FRED (Free Rides Everywhere Downtown) stops there as well. It's a short walk from Citadel Hill and the fortress and the Natural History Museum is just around the corner further down Summer Street.
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