Point Pleasant Park Map of park at main entrance , July 2005 Point Pleasant Park is a large , forested area at the southern tip of Halifax peninsula . It once hosted several military batteries , and a well-preserved eighteenth century Martello tower can be found there . The park is a popular recreational spot for Haligonians , as it hosts excellent forest walks and affords beautiful views across the harbour and out toward the Atlantic . Shakespearean plays are performed in the park every summer by the Shakespeare by the Sea theatre company . The park is still officially owned by the British government , but the Halifax Regional Municipality pays a nominal rent of one shilling per year . In 2000 Canadian Food Inspection Agency planned to cut 10 , 000 trees to halt an outbreak of Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle ( Tetropium fuscum ) . This plan was challenged in the courts , which resulted in a reduction in cutting . An official management plan for the park has never been implemented , leaving it vulnerable to extreme weather and misuse . Hurricane Juan In September , 2003 , Point Pleasant Park was devastated by Hurricane Juan . Nearly three quarters of the park 's trees were knocked down and the park remained closed until June of 2004 . While there are still trees remaining , the park now has a very thin canopy . In response to the hurricane damage , the Point Pleasant Park International Design Competition was held to find the best plan for the renewal of the park . Two firms were declared co-winners of the $ 50 , 000 CDN prize in October 2005 . NIP paysage of Montreal , Quebec , Canada and Ekistics Planning & Design of Dartmouth , Nova Scotia , Canada will collaborate to produce a comprehensive plan to renew one of Canada 's oldest urban parks . A view within Point Pleasant Park before Hurricane Juan ( top ) and after ( bottom ) . The Plan At this writing ( August 2006 ) there is only a glimmer of a beginning for park recovery . There is limited funding and no long-term budgetary commitment . Some interim steps seem about to be taken . A view from Point Pleasant Park prior to Hurricane Juan External links Point Pleasant Park International Design Competition Fortifications and ruins in Point Pleasant Park Friends of Point Pleasant Park Categories : Cycleways in Canada | Parks in the Halifax Regional Municipality | Urban public parks 