Jump, roll and flip through massive new outdoor parkour space

Langleyis now home to one of the largest parkourpractice spaces in Canada.

The 10,000 square-foot PenzerParkourPark openedto beginners and enthusiastsThursday alongside a new pump track for bicycles.

The sport ispart gymnastics, part obstacle course navigation and it's growing in popularity.

Traditionally urban

The challenge is to move quickly through an urban space by running, climbing, jumping, and swinging your way through a series of obstacles.

Lead designer ColinMacDonaldhas been practicingparkourin public urban spaces for more than 10 years.

The sport is traditionally a sort offreestyle gymnastics that takes place in existing public spaces which aren't specifically designed forparkour.

"Parkouris a found sport. You go out into a city and there's a wall there, a staircase there, and alot of time, you see those elements and they'retoo far apart or the wrong size or shape," he said.

MacDonaldsaid he drew from his own experiences in various cities to create a space that would be friendlier than concrete courses but still challengingfor users.

Local materials

The new space inLangleywasconstructed withyellow cedar from Vancouver Island.

MacDonaldsaid he chose to leave the wood in the form of large beams and poles because he had the luxury of working in such a large space.

The design is meant to give beginners a space to try their first jumps of three or four feet as well as provide seasoned veterans space to challenge themselves.

Participants can try their hand at leaping from posts, swinging from bars and climbing over wooden walls.

Those who swing and miss will land on arubberizedsurface that's also integrated into the design of the course.

The flooring itself isdotted with red circlesto createagame: avoid touching the coloured spots becausethey're "like lava."

Macdonald said the sport has a broad appeal,but it really resonates withteenagers who have "aged out"of traditional playgrounds and maybe don'tlove organized sports.