The Chuck Bailey Youth Park (Surrey, BC) boasts Canada’s first purpose-built partially covered outdoor skate plaza and bowl complex. Located directly adjacent to the acclaimed Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre, the landmark development covers just under 30,000 square feet of space, including a 6,500 square foot sport court, 18,000 sqft skate plaza, local art installations and an architecturally stunning roof structure that houses over 5,000 square feet of world-class skateable bowl terrain.

Skateable features include a balanced mix of detailed obstacles ranging from custom skateable boulder sculptures to transitioned vertical monoliths that also serve as signage installations for the park’s main entry. However, the most sought after feature is undoubtedly the expansive covered bowl unit which flows directly from the central plaza and provides users with a dry location to skate during the region’s many rainy periods.
The entry plaza and open space plan reflects the needs of a multi-purpose building and the additional requirement of formal public events. The site concept takes the idea of ‘honing oneself as an athlete’. Various metaphors are used: rough granite, smooth granite, deliberate paving patterns, plant selection, lighting, and water features. The resulting design was used by VANOC through the Olympic lead-up and now functions as community meeting space, recreation centre, and public gallery. Various efforts were made to reduce the urban heat island effect, improve site permeability, and reduce water consumption. The project has become a ‘beacon’ for new development in the area – an inspiring expression of Surrey’s future!