World’s first bike polo court opens in East Van

Bike Polo demonstration at Grandview Park today

Bike polo. It’s popular in many big cities and now my neighbourhood is home to the first bike polo court in the world.

“After years of playing in the old tennis courts, the bike polo players worked with park board in the redesign of Grandview Park on Commercial drive and came up with this spankin’ new multi use court,” reads the Vancouver Is Awesome blog.

At the demo today, I enjoyed a piece of cake the Parks Board offered for this celebratory event. I had a good chat with Vancouver Park Board Commissioner Sarah Blyth, who seemed happy to be part of this collaboration between the city and park users. I told her I’d like to see a memorial for Curtis Brick in the renovated park, and she said I should write to the parks board about it. Curtis died in the park on July 29, 2009 on the hottest day on record in Vancouver, after he lay there in the sun for more than eight hours.

What’s up with the park?

According to the City of Vancouver website: “The .89 hectare (2.2 acre) Grandview Park, the site of the sport court, is receiving $2 million in upgrades including playground, water spray park, benches, picnic tables, field house and cenotaph plaza. The park is still under construction, but the Park Board has committed to the community to providing a phased opening for the park as its various components are completed. The cenotaph plaza along Commercial Drive will open in June and the playground and field house in July.”

“A grand opening for the entire park will be held this summer.” Cool!