Layritz Park

Layritz Park is a 29.1-hectare community hub in Saanich that blends premier baseball and soccer facilities with scenic nature trails, a disc golf course, and protected Garry oak ecosystems.

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Location

Saanich
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About

Located within Saanich, Layritz Park is a vibrant, 29.1-hectare community space highly valued for its multi-use sports facilities, recreation opportunities, and dedicated focus on environmental protection. The park gracefully backs onto the Camosun College Interurban Campus and the Vancouver Island Technology Park, making it an easy-to-access hub for students, commuters, and families alike.

History of the park

The story of Layritz Park is rooted in a generous community gift that spans generations.

The original donation: The parkland was originally established when Mr. Richard Emil Layritz donated an initial parcel of land (4.25 hectares) to Saanich shortly before his passing in 1954. Mr. Layritz was the founder of Layritz Nurseries Ltd., an internationally renowned horticultural business that supplied thousands of varieties of trees and shrubs across the Pacific Northwest, including major regional landmarks like the Butchart Gardens and Beacon Hill Park. He donated this land with a strict stipulation: it must be fenced in and dedicated as a park for children to play. A commemorative plaque honouring his donation can still be found embedded in a rock right near the parking lot.
Early sports development: In 1956, the Colquitz Athletic Association approached the Saanich Council to seek support for developing softball facilities on the land. By 1957, Council officially approved developing the space for Little League Baseball. Later that year, Mrs. Layritz proudly attended the official opening of Little League Baseball at the park.
Expansion: In 1963 Mrs. Layritz continued the family’s philanthropic legacy by donating an additional 2.02 hectares of land to expand the park.
Modern growth & the Glendale lands: The park underwent its most substantial growth following the re-development of the neighbouring Glendale lands in 1997. The District of Saanich purchased 11.66 hectares, and the Province provided an additional 10.9 hectares via a Free Crown Grant. This massive expansion paved the way for the community's modern sports hubs; an artificial turf soccer field and the BC Minor Ball Diamond officially opened to the public in 2008.
The trails network: In 2002, the main pedestrian connector corridor stretching from Mann Avenue to the Vancouver Island Technology Park and Camosun College was built. In 2006, these pathways were upgraded to become a permanent piece of the Centennial Trail Network, celebrating the District of Saanich’s 100th anniversary.

Sports & Recreation Features

Layritz Park is a premier destination for local sports leagues of all ages, offering expansive open fields and meticulously maintained facilities:

Ball diamonds: The park boasts seven baseball fields equipped with outfield fences, catering to everything from T-ball and softball up to senior baseball leagues. The main Little League ballpark features spectator bleachers, announcer lookouts, and a seasonal concession building. It serves as the proud home of the Layritz Little League and the Layritz Intermediate Baseball Association.
Soccer facilities: Home to the Prospect Lake Soccer Club, the park features a top-tier artificial turf soccer field.
9-hole disc golf course: Weaving through an open field filled with small trees and shrubs on the north side of the park, a 9-hole disc golf course begins near the Vancouver Island Technology Park boundary.
Family amenities: Next to the seasonal concession building is a toddler-friendly playground complete with swings, a climbing wall, and modern play apparatus alongside a dedicated picnic area.

Trails, nature & wildlife

Whether you are walking your dog, riding a horse, or commuting to campus, Layritz Park offers a scenic escape into nature with diverse habitats and beautiful ecosystems.

The loop trail: A 1,140-meter path perfect for walking, running, or a casual 1,500-meter loop stroll when extended toward the green spaces of Camosun College and Tech Park.
The summit trail: A gentle 315-meter slope that takes walkers up to a viewpoint at the peak of Layritz Hill. From the summit, you can enjoy sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains, the northern valley, local wetlands, the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, and the Vancouver Island Technology Park.
Paved connector & specialized paths: A one-kilometer paved bicycle connector trail passes cleanly through the park, linking to the Glendale area pathways and leading out toward Wilkinson Road. Commuters can also use a 400-meter loose gravel path connecting the tech buildings to the Pacific Institute for Sports Education (PISE) building, or take a short woodchip trail located near the northern restrooms that wanders alongside the ballpark outfield into the quiet forest.

The park features thriving ecosystems consisting of Garry oak forests, Douglas fir stands, and big leaf maple trees. In the spring, visitors are treated to a vibrant display of regional wildflowers, including camas, fawn lilies, buttercups, and shooting stars.

The addition of environmental ponds and deliberate native plantings has greatly enriched local wildlife habitats. Visitors routinely spot garter snakes, mice, raccoons, and mule deer. Birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts can look out for nearly 100 species of birds and 20 species of butterflies, keeping an eye out for local residents like Red-tailed hawks, Orange-crowned warblers, Purple finches, and Chipping sparrows (source, source, source and source).

Lands

The District of Saanich lies within the territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples represented by the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations and the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples represented by the Tsartlip, Pauquachin, Tsawout, Tseycum and Malahat Nations.

Amenities