The Oceanside Community Track will soon be open to the public, with final touches on the rubberized surface expected to be completed this week. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

track and field

‘So excited for this:’ long-envisioned Oceanside running track opening soon for public use

Jun 4, 2025 | 5:32 AM

PARKSVILLE — It’s taken almost two decades from the inspiration to near completion, but the Oceanside community will soon be able to run on its brand new community track.

The six-lane, rubberized Oceanside Community Track at Ballenas Secondary School in Parksville is getting the lines painted this week and will soon be available for public use.

Oceanside Track and Field Club director Mark Desvaux said it’s incredibly exciting to see their vision become reality.

“It takes a whole community. We started this project 20 years ago, we started fundraising it seven years ago, and we managed to raise the $1.7 million that was needed… the track is in its very, very final stage.”

As of Tuesday, June 3, Desvaux said at least three-quarters of the track has been covered in the red rubberized surface, similar to what’s used on Olympic tracks.

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He’s hoping the lines will be completed within the next few days, weather dependent, and then the track will be available for community use.

“We’ve got so many people who’ve been so excited for this. I was chatting with a veteran yesterday who told me, ‘you know, this is the first time I’ll be able to actually start running again, because I’ve not been able to find a surface which is safe to run on.’

Desvaux said according to their figures, around 450 organizations and people have all worked on making this a reality, including donations from local municipalities and organizations.

Some final touches still need to be completed, including growing grass in the middle, prior to the official grand opening, set to take place in September.

More information can be found at oceansidecommunitytrack.ca.

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