Maybe because it’s got “public” right there in the title, the Victorian garden at the corner of South Park and Spring Garden has this category sewn up, and has for years. Of course, it could be that the space remains, as it has for generations, a pristine escape in the heart of the city, a place for strolling, lounging and admiring flora, fauna and waterfowl.
First Runner-up: Point Pleasant Park
Second Runner-up Halifax Common