Fun Fun Park

Many years ago, after people had stopped living in the old brick house, located in the middle of the property bordered by 14th Ave & 128 street; people living south of this property started walking through it to catch buses, do their shopping and visit the library.
One of these was Mr. Gordon Felty, a well-liked employee of the B.C. Liquor Board. In the spring of 1985 he approached some members of the Ocean Park Community Association to see if a way could be found to up-grade this often muddy path so that more members of the community could use this route to the central business area. A call was made to City Hall and a short time later a load of bark mulch was delivered. Gordon spent most of a weekend spreading this material. This upgraded path proved to be so popular that it soon needed significant repair. Now, the City provided crushed rock for the path surface. Need for this path was well recognized and Gordon now had a group of willing volunteers to help with spreading this material.
Officials with the Parks and Recreation Department in Surrey approached the OPCA in the late Summer of '85, suggesting that the community take advantage of a new program, 'Volunteers in Parks' and harness the already demonstrated Ocean Park community spirit, and create a public park on the site.
Coincidently, a group of exchange students with Canada World Youth were being billeted in Ocean Park and needed a community project to work on to fulfill their mandate. They were recruited, and once a rough plan had been created, about thirty young adults started clearing the site. Surrey provided tools and advice about proceeding without damaging precious plant life. Many additional volunteers from the community contributed whatever they could.
Within a couple of weeks, so much had been achieved that the Mayor of Surrey, Mr. Don Ross was brought in to see the site. He and his officials were so impressed that 'on the spot', they committed $50,000.00 to complete the park. It was to be showcased as the first 'Volunteers in Parks' in B.C.

After the Park had been finished in the following Spring, a celebration was held to dedicate the park and recognize the volunteers. This was attended by several officials with the City, all of the Parks and Recreation Commissioners, and a multitude from the community. Part of this very joyful event was a competition to name the park. After much deliberation the judges chose 'Fun Fun Park' to be its name, and awarded 12-year-old Jessica Tuttle 10 shiny silver dollars for her winning entry.'Fun Fun' Park is still recognized as a model of co-operation between all concerned in a community which can result in a project that succeeds beyond all expectations.- by George Tuttle