Surrey has become the first city in North America to introduce free, self-service sports equipment lending stations — a project designed to make recreation more inclusive and accessible to all residents.
Launched in late July under the leadership of Mayor Brenda Locke, the Equip Sport program allows residents to borrow sports and fitness equipment from automated stations installed in city parks, without any fees or membership requirements.
More than 2,000 residents have already signed up for the program, which provides equipment such as basketballs, soccer balls, and fitness gear.
How the Program Works
The system operates through the Equip Sport mobile app, where users can locate their nearest lending station, unlock the equipment box, and borrow what they need for free.
Each station contains a range of equipment suitable for both individuals and families, including basketballs, soccer balls, table tennis sets, jump ropes, and fitness bands.
The busiest stations to date are located in Kwantlen Park, Sunnyside Park, and Edgewood Park.
Expanding Access to Recreation
Mayor Brenda Locke said the initiative was inspired by the city’s goal to remove financial barriers to recreation.
“Sports are for everyone, but cost and access can make it difficult to participate. Equip Sport removes those barriers and ensures everyone has an opportunity to stay active,” said Locke.
Basketball has become the most rented item among men, while fitness equipment ranks highest among women. The early success of Equip Sport has already drawn attention from other municipalities across Canada.
Partnerships and Funding
The program is supported through a partnership between the City of Surrey, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, and Equip Sport, a Swiss-based company known for creating accessible recreation programs.
Surrey’s launch marks Equip Sport’s first project in North America, following successful implementations in several European cities.
Next Steps
City officials say maintenance and restocking will be handled regularly to ensure reliable service. Users are encouraged to return items promptly after use to help maintain availability for others.
Given the positive public response, Surrey is exploring expansion of the program to additional parks and the inclusion of seasonal equipment such as bicycles and outdoor fitness gear.
“It’s exciting to see Surrey leading the way in accessible recreation,” said Locke. “We’re proud to see this idea growing across Canada.”
Residents can find their nearest lending station by visiting surrey.ca/equip.
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