One of the very first expansions (1892) for the Town of Sudbury included the area of what became known as the West End. One of the prominent features of the West End neighbourhood was a gravel pit which included a spring where citizens obtained their drinking water before the development water and sewer infrastructure.
In 1939, the gravel pit was purchased by the then City of Sudbury for the creation of a sports field named Athletic Park. The site over the years became a popular destination for baseball, football, and tennis, among many other sports. It was also the site for concerts, band competitions, the circus and public skating.
On June 5th 1939 King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Prime Minister Mackenzie King visited Sudbury, which was noted as “one of the most glorious events in local history”. ‘Athletic Field’ changed its name to ‘Queen’s Athletic Field’ in honour of this visit.
The site is presently made up of a fieldhouse (c. 1990), a Tennis Dome, a playground structure, field lights, bleachers, and a track, which, in the winter, is used as a skating oval. The site also includes a refreshment booth (c. 1990), and a ticket booth (c. 1975). Queen’s Athletic Field is a designated heritage site.
Watch How a Gravel Pit Became a City Landmark by Doug Jodouin
