The first campus skatepark in North America is now open at UBC! The park provides students and youth with a fun and safe recreational space, close to campus neighbourhoods, where they can use skateboards, BMX bikes and in-line skates.

UBC has opened a brand new skatepark on campus, the first of its kind in North America. The skatepark is a fun and safe recreational space for on campus children, youth, teens as well as the community to skateboard, BMX and in-line skate.

Photos by Jamil Rhajiak, UBC

It will serve the needs of UTown@UBC residents and members of the local campus community, as well as the general public. The creation of the new on campus park, dedicated to action sports, is a pro-active effort to accommodate the growing demand for this type of recreational facility.

The UBC Skatepark is a joint project that was completed in partnership with the University Neighbourhoods Association (UNA), who co-funded the park. The skatepark was approved through a comprehensive planning process that included numerous public consultations.

The park is located at the intersection of Thunderbird Boulevard and Health Sciences Mall, and is open from dawn to dusk.

Process and Timeline

Step One: Conducting a Community Needs Assessment

A public open house was held on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 so that we could better understand the specific needs of our campus community with respect to the proposed skateboard park. This session was also designed to help the consultant team, Newline Skateparks and van der Zalm + Associates, identify the desired mix of activities that could be accommodated at the proposed park.

Step Two: Design Development

We presented design concepts for the proposed skateboard park, including its possible location on campus. Feedback on the different designs was collected from the community to help inform development of the final concept.

Download the presentation boards see preliminary sketches and possible design directions or the Consultation Summary Report.

Step Three: Presenting the Final Design

The final design concept was unveiled at an open house on August 29th, 2012. There was opportunity to provide feedback on the proposal and specific and detailed comments on elements of the park were taken into consideration.

Step Four: Final Design and Construction

A decision was reached by UBC and the UNA to advance construction of the multi-use skatepark. UBC re-engaged a consulting team to finalize a design based on input from the public consultation process and comments from staff at UBC.

Skatepark Cautions

It’s important to exercise caution when using an action sports facility like the skatepark. Here are some guidelines to be aware of:

Be responsible. This is an unsupervised facility.

Use at your own risk and communicate with fellow users.

This facility is designed for the use of skateboards, in-line skates and BMX bicycles only. Motorized vehicles are prohibited.

Home made platforms, jumps or other obstacles will be removed without notice.

Commercial Use of the Park for private lessons is prohibited.

For your safety and enjoyment please respect the following:

• Wear the gear! Protective helmets, elbow and knee pads are recommended.
• BMX riders – to avoid damaging the concrete and coping, park pegs are required.
• Graffiti is prohibited, just as it is at your house!
• Please help keep the park clean.
• The park is open from Dawn to Dusk.
• Please call 604-822-2222 to report damage or vandalism.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CALL 911

On August 26^th, 2012, TransLink will begin transitioning the current trolley bus bays to their new permanent locations on the south side of University Boulevard. As a result, trolley bus and vehicle traffic will return to the roadway and pedestrians should adjust their travel through this area. The new loop opens after a phase of improvements to public spaces in the area and will be operational as of Tuesday, August 28^th, 2012.

Between August 26^th and 28^th, there will be minor service impacts and changes to the trolley bus stop locations. The current bays by War Memorial Gym will now be located on the south side of University Boulevard stretching from Wesbrook Mall to East Mall. Signs will be clearly posted directing you to the temporary stop locations and trolley bus route service is expected to run without disruption.

To ensure safety, the new bus loop features clearly marked paths for cyclists and pedestrians. Cyclists entering campus via 10^th Ave. should use the north side of University Boulevard. Eastbound cyclists should exit on the south side of University Boulevard, guided by ‘sharrows’ (shared-lane markings). Pedestrians should use the sidewalks at all times and cross University Boulevard only at designated cross walks when safe.

The completion of University Boulevard brings improvements in sustainable transportation including bicycle lockers at the D.H. Copp building, bus stops located closer to the heart of campus and the future Student Union Building (currently under construction), and beautiful new bus shelters (to be completed in March). The three new bus bays will serve the #4 Powell, #14 Hastings, # 9 Boundary (peak hours only) and the N17 Downtown NightBus.

Students, faculty, staff and residents will notice that improvements in the area include new lighting, paving, street trees, bicycle parking and landscaping, which are part of UBC’s work to update and improve the campus’s network of outdoor public spaces.

To read the TransLink notice about the loop click here.