SURREY: The City of Surrey today announced the development of a designated longboarding site within the South Surrey Athletic Park (14600 – 20 Avenue, Surrey) scheduled to open this year in late spring.After consultation with longboarding community groups and the RCMP, the City agreed to develop a suitable location that is both safe and off-road.
The longboarding pilot project site will be located on the service access road leading to the running track within the South Surrey Athletic Park. Due to its limited slope and good site lines, the site is being developed as a safe learning environment for beginners new to the sport. It is also accessible via public transit.
“We recognize the growing popularity of the sport of longboarding among today’s youth,” says City of Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts. “In developing this site we want to ensure the safety of both the participants and the public.”
“The development of more challenging designated longboarding sites in the future is something we will work towards as the sport continues to grow,” says Councillor Linda Hepner, Chair of the Parks, Recreation and Sport Tourism Committee. “We will be monitoring this pilot location over the summer to assess its impact on the community before we consider any future sites.”
Longboarding has become increasingly popular in recent years, but as youth typically had no place to ride other than City streets, there has been concern over safety, prompting consideration of a dedicated site. Typically between 40 and 55 inches long, longboards have larger wheels than traditional skateboards, allowing them to go faster and help the rider to turn sharp corners.
