A City At Leisure : An Illustrated History of Parks and Recreation Services in Winnipeg

In this book, author and archivist Catherine Macdonald traces the development and role of Winnipeg's parks from the initiation of Manitoba's Public Parks Act in 1892 to the Winnipeg Parks Board's ongoing activities a century later. While she chronicles the acquisition and building of green spaces, Macdonald also identifies Winnipeg's parks as reflections of social and economic change: they appear as sites of strike rallies, venues for community gatherings, public works projects, and indications of affluence. Balancing local politics and neighborhood development against broader historical trends, Macdonald offers a unique look at Winnipeg's growth through its recreational spaces. Laid in are a 1993 invitation to a 100th anniversary reception in honour of Winnipeg's Parks and Recreation Department and a 1996 Winnipeg Free Press review of Macdonald's book.