The Town of Barrhead will celebrate the opening of its new Skills Park at the Dr. M. Brent Wray All-Wheels Park on Friday, July 17, 2026, with a free community event running from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The celebration at 5024 55A Street will feature live skate demonstrations, free hot dogs, giveaways, a LEGO table, and safety education sessions on helmet use and concussion awareness.
55A Street will be closed to traffic during the event, and bleachers will be set up for spectators. The town says the event is open to all ages and all types of wheels, including skateboards, BMX bikes, and scooters.
The Skills Park is a mountain and BMX bike skills area that was added to the existing all-wheels park. Designed by Hinton-based Hoots Inc., the $100,000 project was funded with $50,000 from the Dr. Wray naming sponsorship and $50,000 from the town’s general capital. Construction was approved by council in June 2025 and was projected for completion in late fall of that year.
The original all-wheels park opened on June 23, 2023, replacing an older wooden skate park near the curling rink. It was named after Dr. Marvin Brent Wray during a ceremony on May 31, 2025. Dr. Wray served Barrhead for more than 40 years as a family doctor and emergency physician, delivering thousands of babies before his passing in 2019. A community fundraising campaign led by pharmacist Rita Lyster raised the $100,000 needed for the naming rights.
Former mayor Dave McKenzie praised the community for its support of the park, which Parks and Recreation Director Shallon Touet helped bring to completion. The July 17 event marks the official debut of the expanded recreation space for local riders.
