This occasional series explores Bellingham’s indoor recreation needs and current options, and how other cities have funded and built successful public centers.
While too many Olympic buildings fall into disrepair following competition, British Columbia’s 512,000-square-foot Richmond Olympic Oval transformed in 2010 from a long-track facility into an impressive community center for sports and fitness lovers of all kinds.
The sweeping facility, located at 6111 River Road, Richmond, an hour north of Bellingham, is now home to two Olympic-sized ice rinks, six hardwood courts, two plastic courts, a 400-meter track, a climbing wall, fitness centers, fitness studios, an Olympic Museum and more. Professional athletes go to the facility to train, alongside metro Vancouver locals playing table tennis, basketball or just getting in a workout.
More than 1.3 million people visited the Oval in 2023. A monthly continuous membership for an adult costs $72CAD a month, or less than $52 in U.S. dollars.
Marketing and Communications Manager Brianna Fee said the plan from the start was to ensure the facility would be used by the community once the Games were over.
“It really was at the forefront … ‘What will the community be able to do in here after?’” Fee said. “A lot of times it’s the reverse of that. The Olympics end and they’re like, ‘Now what?’”
Fee said that as early as 2006, the Oval was seeking input from community and sports organizations on what would be put into the facility. Before the Olympics even came to town, the facility opened to community members with four hardwood courts, a fitness center studio space and the 400-meter speed skating oval. Fee said by 2009, the center already had 1,500 members.
By September 2010, the Oval was fully converted into a recreation center. The facility is managed by the Richmond Olympic Oval Corporation, whose single shareholder is the City of Richmond.
The center is the home training center for Canada’s Olympic climbers, Canada’s National Women’s Volleyball Team, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby, Fee said.
Coming soon: A look at two successful recreation centers in Snohomish County. Read previous stories on three Bellingham projects in play for additional indoor recreation options.
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
