A haven for outdoor adventurers and city slickers alike, Surrey boasts a wealth of green spaces and a quirky mix of urban and rural. No matter your style of exploration, or your unique set of abilities, there’s an abundance of activities to discover for every kind of explorer, including those with special needs.
Trails & Parks
Surrey offers a wide variety of nature trails for visitors of all mobility levels. Here are just a few of the green spaces in Surrey to explore:
Tynehead Regional Park – The Serpentine, Hawthorne and Birch Grove trails take visitors through a lovely forest. The trails are wide, with minimal elevation, are primarily packed gravel (there are some paved parts) and include a few wooden bridges. There are interpretive signs throughout the park detailing the habitat and environment and, in the fall, the Serpentine River is a great spot for watching the salmon run.
Bear Creek Park – The trails and pathways through Bear Creek Park can feel like a quiet walk in the park, but there is lots to see and do among the Redwoods: see salmon spawning, discover whimsical garden statues, or take a break at one of the sheltered picnic tables. The trails in Bear Creek Park are mostly paved, or hard-packed gravel.
Surrey Bend Regional Park – Located on the banks of the Fraser River, the trail at Surrey Bend Regional Park meanders through floodplain forests, marshes and thickets and provides a habitat for many wildlife species. The trail is level and firm and comprised of crushed rock or gravel.
Bird Watching
Located along the Pacific Flyway, a major north-south flyway for migratory birds in North America, Blackie Spit, with its tidal marsh and eelgrass beds is an important stop for migrating and wintering waterfowl and shorebirds. The boardwalk and trail are hard-packed gravel and mostly flat, with spectacular, unobstructed views and bird-watching opportunities. The waterfront pathway in neighbouring Crescent Beach is also a wonderful spot for a stroll. The path is wide and hard-packed with gorgeous views of the ocean.
Beach Wheels
During the summer months, between 11 am and 7 pm, beachgoers can borrow a beach wheelchair from the lifeguard station at Crescent Beach, thanks to a generous donation from the Self-Advocates of Semiahmoo. The wheelchair is available on a first-come, first-served basis and is perfect for navigating the sand to get to the water.
Sensory Friendly Swims
Museum of Surrey
The Museum of Surrey is a free, fully accessible venue in every sense: intellectually, culturally, and physically. Visitors of all abilities can visit and enjoy access to exhibits, shows and interactive areas. The TD Explore Zone was created with universal design in mind, and children of all ages and abilities can access exhibits. Additionally, the first Sunday of every month has a dedicated sensory-friendly time with reduced noise, dimmed lighting, quiet activities, and a sensory-friendly space.
Other accessibility features include:
• Noise-cancelling headphones and sensory kits available at the reception
• Braille and tactile signage
• Accessible theatre with four wheelchair-accessible seating areas
• Elevator to second-floor galleries
• Universal washrooms with accessible stalls
Surrey Art Gallery
The Surrey Art Gallery, located within Surrey Arts Centre, is committed to providing accessible and inclusive services, programs, and opportunities. The gallery has multiple seating areas, and minimal visual clutter and obstacles with clear central access throughout the building. The elevator is large enough for a 180-degree turn with a mobility device, and on-loan Sensory Kits are available from reception with items such as fidget toys and noise-cancelling headphones.
Historic Stewart Farm
Surrey’s Historic Stewart Farm has recently had renovations that have updated the washrooms, pathways, and buildings to improve access for all. The trails around Historic Stewart Farms are packed with gravel, and all buildings are accessible on the first floor. A ramp to access the main house can be found on the right-hand side of the building.
Accessible Playground
Unwin Park in Surrey’s Newton neighbourhood has an amazing playground with a range of features thanks to the Jumpstart Inclusive Play program. The 12,000 square-foot playground includes accessible play elements such as the We-Go-Round, Sway Fun Glider, Omnispin Spinner, Cozy Dome, We-Saw, Netplex, Smart Play Motion, Sensory Play Center, Rhapsody Music Collection, slides with transfer benches, and a variety of swings, all connected by a double-wide accessible ramp system.
Festivals & Events
Everyone can fully enjoy the festivals and events that Surrey has to offer, from the grand opening ceremonies, where American Sign Language interpreters are on hand and priority accessible seating is provided, to the accessible viewing decks available at major celebrations like Canada Day and Surrey’s Fusion Festival.
Sensory-friendly spaces are available at each of the City’s key events, including the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival, Party for the Planet, Canada Day and Fusion Festival.
Recreation Centres
Many of Surrey’s recreation centres and aquatic facilities, such as the Newton Wave Pool and Guildford Recreation & Aquatics Centre welcome visitors with diversabilities.