Hong Kong’s extreme sports community is set to celebrate the grand opening of the revamped On Lok Mun Street Playground in Fanling this Saturday (12 April), at 4 p.m. The new facility, constructed by the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD), replaces the original playground demolished in February 2023 to make way for the Fanling Bypass project. Spanning 3,825 square meters—70% larger than its predecessor—the upgraded venue boasts both a bowl-style and street-style setup, earning certification from World Skate, making it Hong Kong’s first internationally recognized bowl facility.
Designed by the same team behind the skateboarding venues for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the new playground caters to athletes in skateboarding, aggressive inline skating, freestyle BMX, and freestyle scooter sports. The venue features a meticulously crafted bowl pool with 2.6-meter and 1.6-meter arcs arranged in an X-shaped layout, alongside a street-style area equipped with ramps, rails, ledges, and stairs. These facilities are tailored to accommodate players of varying skill levels, from beginners to seasoned professionals.
Edo, an aggressive inline skater with over a decade of experience, praised the new venue for its versatility. “The bowl here is taller than the old one, which makes it great for practicing advanced tricks,” she said. “Having both bowl and street setups in one place is a game-changer. It’s likely to become the go-to spot for most players.” She noted that the increased height and diverse design allow athletes to push their limits without needing to travel abroad for training, a costly endeavor in the past.
The construction process was no small feat. Resident site architect Chung Wai-ming explained that the bowl pool was hand-troweled and polished to ensure smoothness and precise curvature, meeting World Skate’s stringent standards. The venue’s surface is painted in three distinct colors to differentiate flat, sloped, and vertical planes, aiding athletes in navigating terrain while also helping with heat dissipation. Senior CEDD engineer Leung Wai-lok added that the $60 million project, initiated in 2020, incorporated user feedback to enhance functionality, including the addition of restrooms and changing rooms for player convenience.
Leung highlighted the project’s alignment with the Northern Metropolis development strategy, which aims to transform Fanling North into a hub for quality living and cultural leisure. “This venue isn’t just about sports—it’s about creating a vibrant community space,” he said. To ensure accessibility during construction, a temporary facility was provided nearby for athletes to continue training.
Skateboarder Ah Ting, who tested the venue alongside Edo, lauded its smooth surfaces, which reduce the risk of injury compared to other local sites. “The design suits everyone, from newbies to pros,” she said, expressing excitement about the potential for hosting international competitions given the venue’s certification. Both athletes hope the facility will inspire more Hongkongers to take up extreme sports, especially following the sport’s rising profile since its inclusion in the Olympics.
Managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the playground will be open to the public free of charge starting April 12. With its state-of-the-art design and international accreditation, the On Lok Mun Street Playground is poised to inject fresh energy into Hong Kong’s extreme sports scene, cementing the city’s place on the global stage.