5 Parkour Parks in Greater Vancouver
As well as having world-class indoor training facilities, there are lots of great spots to do parkour outside for free in the Lower Mainland. These are the main 5 spots to train outside in Greater Vancouver.
1. Cottonwood Parkour Park, Coquitlam
Despite being relatively small, this park was really thoughtfully designed and blends well with the other features, like the basketball court and ping pong tables. It beautifully spills into an open grassy field, making it an ideal place for freestyle types of training.
The variety of challenges available in such a compact space is impressive. It has all the essential vaults, walls, and rails you need. On top of that, the lights can be turned on after dark, using the button by the electrical box, until 10 PM. This makes it well worth the trip—which is an easy walk from Burquitlam SkyTrain Station.
2. Hazelgrove Parkour Park, Surrey
This park offers a strong selection of dedicated parkour obstacles, including concrete walls and vaults, with very swingable metal rails and rubber flooring.
It's easy to find all the classic challenges here and it's a great spot to face your fear of heights. This is one of the best outdoor parkour parks in Canada and well worth the drive, if you live in the region.
3. Penzer Parkour Park, Langley
This is officially Canada’s largest outdoor parkour park. It can get busy with kids at times, but there’s plenty of space to share and more than enough obstacles for everyone, including some ninja features.
Wooden structures of various shapes and sizes are combined with PVC railing, all set over rubber flooring. There's even a small trampoline. It’s an exciting and safe environment for kids, though a bit less relaxed than other parkour parks.
4. Hastings Parkour Park, East Vancouver
This was the first official parkour park in the province. It has a great concrete wall beside a sandy volleyball court, making it ideal for practicing climb-ups and flips. There is also an extra-large set of rails that are fun to climb and makes it a solid gym for a dynamic workout.
There are also ping pong tables and other fitness features nearby, including concrete vaults oddly placed on a grassy knoll in the distance. You may need to use your imagination to get the most out of this park but it's part of a larger park which is a good place to branch out.
5. Lions Gate Village, North Vancouver
There is a quasi-parkour park beside the Lions Gate Community Recreation Centre. It features a large water fountain made of concrete blocks that are practically begging to be jumped on. Right next to it is a large playground with unique obstacles and a solid set of pull-up bars.
This is a fun place to practice strides, plyometrics, and precision jumps in the summer. The water provides a nice vibe and adds some consequence to the challenges which naturally makes you a little more careful.
- Michael Jacobsen