Playgrounds The City of Abbotsford operates and maintains 72 playgrounds in community parks. In 2003, a Playground Replacement Program was launched with ongoing support from the Rotary Club of Abbotsford, Sumas. Since then, the City has been able to replace 12 playgrounds. In 2013, the City was awarded a federal grant to replace 10 aging playgrounds. The older play equipment at Larch, Southern, Glenridge, Charlotte, Everett, Juniper, Renton, Fairfield, Uplands and Jubilee Park has been replaced and the surrounding park infrastructure has been upgraded. The City’s new playground designs address inclusive play and serve children of all abilities by replacing the pea gravel surfacing with a “wood carpet”. This provides better protection for falls, and makes our playgrounds wheelchair accessible. The addition of protective fencing and asphalt pathways at several of the playgrounds also provide better accessibility. We continue to work with community groups and industry to better understand and design inclusive and accessible spaces for play. abbotsford.ca/prc
Abbotsford Exhibition Park
New at the Ag Rec Gallery, staff have renovated the kitchen, washrooms and the main area and added a media center, new sound system and screen. The new additions have created a modern feel to the space and allow users more variety when looking to book a room for events, meeting or training venues. Rotary Stadium is available for rent and the track is open daily for public fitness. Sports fields host soccer, rugby, cricket and flag football and the ball fields are in use through to the end of October. The main floor of the Agrifair Arena and Ag Rec building are busy all fall hosting indoor activities such as dog shows, tennis, roller hockey, and archery, along with concerts, martial arts and wrestling events. The local BMX club converts part of the Agrifair Arena to an indoor track so they can continue to practice their sport through the wet months. Abbotsford Exhibition Park has multiple facilities available for rent. Check it out! abbotsford.ca/exhibitionpark
Arbor Day: An Annual Celebration of Trees! Arbor Day has been celebrated for more than 400 years. Even in the time of Napoleon, people understood the value and vital importance of trees! In Canada, Arbor Day has been observed for more than 110 years. Different provinces and cities celebrate it at different times of the year. In Abbotsford, Arbor Day has been celebrated for 15 years and is now held in the third week of September to align with Canada’s National Forest Week. Each year the City of Abbotsford’s Parks, Recreation and Culture Department hosts “Arbor Day” in one of our local city parks. This is a celebration of trees and the local natural ecosystem. The day is geared for school aged kids and focuses on planting trees, learning about nature and having fun. Hundreds of children from the Abbotsford School District participated in Arbor Day which encompassed a number of hands-on educational opportunities. The City is proud to partner with the Abbotsford School District for this annual celebration. Watch for more information coming soon regarding this year’s Arbor Day.
DID YOU KNOW?
• The City of Abbotsford has 276 kms of trails and an additional 138km in Regional Parks • The City of Abbotsford has over 192 parks totaling over 840 ha, parks which include neighbourhood parks, green spaces and trails • The parks team plants over around 1500 trees and 55,000 bulbs annually • The City has fishing at both Mill Lake Park and Albert Dyck Memorial park
For more information about the parks section, please contact our office at: Ph: 604.859.3134 email: prcoffice@abbotsford.ca website: abbotsford.ca
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