Sports and Recreation

Fredericton has a wealth of amenities to suit the fitness/outdoor enthusiast, including our popular trail system; over 900 hectares of public parkland in the city’s 138 treed green spaces; boat and yacht clubs; and snowmobile trails, to name just a few. For a full listing of recreation facilities and programs available in the city, please see the attached brochure, or visit the City of Fredericton website at www.fredericton.ca.

Odell Park and Arboretum
Formerly the estate of Rev. Jonathan Odell, Odell Park was proclaimed a public green space in 1954. Spread over 432 acres, Odell Park features a duck pond, barbecue pits, and 16 km of trails. In winter, the outdoor skating rink, cross-country ski trails, and sledding hills make Odell Park a popular destination.

The Odell Arboretum was built in 1985 to mark the bicentennial of Fredericton’s designation as a capital city. Featuring examples of every tree species native to New Brunswick, the Arboretum also contains some trees that are more than 400 years old.

Trails
With a trail system that spans more than 80 kms – including along the north and south riverfronts, through various parks, and across the Old Train Bridge – Fredericton offers an abundance of scenic recreation opportunities for pedestrians, runners, and cyclists. In the winter months, many of these trails are groomed, making them a favourite of cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and walkers. The City has also recently begun a project to pave key sections of the trail, making them more accessible for those with impaired mobility.

Willie O’Ree Place
Opened in 2008, Willie O’Ree Place is a fully accessible facility that features two NHL-sized ice surfaces, an indoor walking track, and an indoor skateboard park. Named in honour of the Fredericton native who became the first black man to play in the NHL, Willie O’Ree Place also functions as a seasonal youth centre and the YMCA Wellness Centre.

Grant*Harvey Centre
Scheduled to open in the fall of 2011, the Grant* Harvey Centre will feature a dual ice-surface arena, a field house, and artificial turf fields. The Centre will play a key role in the city’s new Community Wellness Partnership, a strategy that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents.

River Tours
Fredericton’s riverfront location makes a boat tour one of the best ways to explore the River Valley and surrounding areas. Lakeway Houseboat Vacations is a local company that provides guided tours of the St. John River; visits to Kings Landing Historical Settlement and other points of interest can be arranged by request. Houseboats can also be rented by the hour, day, or week.

Mactaquac Provincial Park
Spread over 1300 acres in the beautiful River Valley, Mactaquac Provincial Park is located just a 20-minute drive from Fredericton’s city centre. Featuring walking trails, two supervised beaches, an 18-hole championship golf course, and over 300 camping sites, as well as an outdoor skating rink, snowmobile trails, cross-country ski trails, and sliding

Crabbe Mountain
Located a short drive from Fredericton, Crabbe Mountain boasts the largest vertical in the Maritimes. Group and private ski/snowboard lessons are available, and babysitting services are offered at peak times.

Golf
With seven golf courses located in the city, Fredericton offers a range of options to appeal to golfers of all levels. Courses include the Carmen Creek Golf Course & Practice Facility, which won the
Fredericton Chamber of Commerce’s Environmental Leadership Award in 2008 and Kingswood Golf, an award-winning course has been recognized as the Best New Course in 2003, one of the Top 100 Courses in the World, and one of the Best Places to Play (Golf Digest magazine).
For more information, please visit the Golf NB website.