There will be a giant boulder in downtown Squamish, but no, it isn’t the piece that fell off the Stawamus Chief.
The District of Squamish, in partnership with Climbers Access Society of BC and with sponsorship from The Hive Bouldering Gym, will install a community climbing boulder downtown at Squamish Junction Park this summer.
The boulder, which will be a free attraction, will offer 600 square feet of climbing surface and will have a rebar internal frame covered with sculpted concrete. The surface around the boulder will be woodchips. The boulder will have a variety of handholds, footholds and features for climbers with varying degrees of difficulty, according to Andrew Coffey, owner of two Hive rock-climbing gyms.
Council passed a motion at Tuesday’s committee of the whole to add Coffey’s $30,000 donation to the district’s $40,000 set aside for the project this year.
“I love it,” said Councillor Peter Kent when he spoke in support of the motion. “Obviously, climbing and bouldering are an integral part of our identity here.”
Kent said Squamish needs more activities for teens to do and the boulder attraction will make a great addition to downtown for all ages.
After council, Coffey, who lives in Squamish, could barely contain his excitement.
“It went easier than expected,” he said, bouncing on his heels and smiling broadly.
Coffey owns The Hive Bouldering Gym in Vancouver and the Hive North Shore.
Coffey said his plan is to eventually create another multi-phased bouldering park perhaps at another location where there is more room.
Council endorsed the climbing boulder idea in the Outdoor Recreation Playground Concept Plan as part of the Downtown Transformation Initiative in October 2013.
The boulder is slated to be installed in August, Coffey said.
