Victoria to host grand opening for new Topaz bike, skateboard park
The City of Victoria is marking the grand opening of its newest bike and skateboard park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and demonstrations by some professional riders.
The new infrastructure at Topaz Park includes a 3,000-square-metre skate park featuring the largest skate bowl in Greater Victoria, plus a 6,000-square-metre bike park and pump track.
The city says the new features are fit for riders of all skill levels, including beginners.
"There is a lot of excitement and anticipation about this amazing new infrastructure," Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said in a statement Monday.
"Recreational activities are critical for the health of our community and skate, scooter and bike features like these will help residents of all ages stay active."
The new bike park section of Topaz Park is pictured. Aug. 8, 2022. (CTV News)
Everyone is invited to attend the opening day festivities, starting at 9 a.m. on Aug. 20.
The day's schedule includes a mayor's welcome at 11 a.m., followed by a bike park tour and professional demos at noon, then a stake park tour and pro demos at 1 p.m.
There will be games, prize giveaways, food trucks, community booths and a live DJ.
The new park areas include interactive sculptures by artist Germaine Koh. The landscaping includes new trees, as well as shared pathways, social spaces and a more sustainable approach to stormwater management, according to the city.
The skate and bike parks, along with the ongoing replacement and expansion of the turf sports field, are part of an initial $10-million investment from the city.
Design work for the next phase of improvements at Topaz Park is planned for 2023 and will include new pickleball courts, ball diamond upgrades and an improved leash-optional dog area.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.