A long-awaited athletic facility is finally becoming reality in the heart of West Vancouver. The West Vancouver Place for Sport — a state-of-the-art track and field complex at West Vancouver Secondary School — is entering its final phase of construction and is expected to fully open by mid to late June 2025.
With the Harry Jerome Oval as its centrepiece, the new facility is set to serve students, athletes, and the broader community for years to come, transforming a previously aging and underperforming field into a vibrant sports destination.
A Vision Years in the Making
Plans to revitalize the aging sports field at West Vancouver Secondary School (WVSS) date back over a decade. Community consultations between 2014 and 2015 helped shape the vision for what would become the West Vancouver Place for Sport. The project was born from the 2011 District of West Vancouver Sport Field Master Plan, which highlighted the pressing need for more high-quality artificial turf in the area.
Now, that vision is finally materializing. After years of planning, public engagement, and a grassroots fundraising effort, the facility officially opened in December 2024. While the core infrastructure is already in place, the final piece — the rubberized surface of the six-lane Harry Jerome Oval — is currently being installed, with completion targeted for June 2025.
A Community-Focused Facility
At the heart of the Place for Sport is inclusivity and accessibility. Designed for school athletics, club competitions, and casual community use alike, the facility offers:
A six-lane synthetic track with advanced shock absorption for performance and safety
A lit artificial turf field suited for multiple sports
Dedicated areas for long jump, high jump, pole vault, triple jump, and shotput
Training zones for discus, hammer, and javelin
Public washrooms, open outside school hours
Improved access pathways and ample parking
The track — named the Harry Jerome Oval in honour of one of Canada’s most celebrated athletes — will be open daily until 10 p.m., aligning with the Ambleside turf field’s hours. When not booked by organized sport groups, the track will be available for public walking and training, continuing a longstanding community tradition at the site.
Funding the Future of West Vancouver Athletics
The Place for Sport represents a powerful example of public-private partnership. Spearheaded by the District of West Vancouver and West Vancouver Schools (WVS), the project was funded through a blend of municipal contributions, provincial grants, school board funding, and extensive community donations.
A major financial boost came via the BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs' Growing Communities Fund, while local citizens, families, sports organizations, and even schools contributed to the fundraising campaign — a grassroots effort that began in 2015 with a $100,000 donation from the West Vancouver Football (Soccer) Club.
According to Mayor Mark Sager, this collaboration has resulted in "an incredible opportunity and asset for West Vancouver, its residents, and athletes of tomorrow." Minister Anne Kang echoed the sentiment, calling it a “destination for young people to train, compete and have fun,” and praising the District as a provincial leader in community-driven development.
Built to Last — and Built Together
The facility’s long-term operation is governed by a Joint Use Agreement between the District and WVS. Responsibilities are shared: the District oversees the artificial turf, while WVS handles the track. Rental income and dedicated annual contributions will be directed into a fund to ensure the future replacement of both the turf and track surfaces.
From construction schedules to parking logistics, attention has been paid to minimizing disruption while maximizing public benefit. A traffic study confirmed that existing on-site parking is sufficient for future demand, and the renovated public washrooms opened in March 2025 to ensure year-round comfort for all users.
The Final Sprint
As of May 2025, the facility is temporarily closed while crews install the rubber surface on the track — a crucial upgrade that improves both safety and performance. Work began on May 5 and is expected to take approximately six weeks, weather permitting. In the meantime, the base asphalt track layer may still be used in limited capacity.
Once reopened, the West Vancouver Place for Sport will mark a new era in community recreation and youth athletics — not only as a training ground, but as a symbol of what’s possible when vision meets collaboration.
Curious how this new facility could change the game for West Vancouver? We’re keeping a close eye on developments like the Place for Sport to help our clients stay connected to what’s happening in their community. Want to be one of them?
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