CrescentRockBeach_ABOUT

Surrey's United Naturists (SUN) are dedicated to the protection and preservation of Crescent Rock Beach. We actively endorse its 50-year history as a nude-friendly shore in South Surrey/White Rock while bringing environmental threats and concerns about this ecologically sensitive area to the attention of the media, local politicians and the general public. SUN is now at the forefront of any issue that threatens the naturist beach or the marine ecology of Boundary Bay including the connecting waters of Georgia Strait and beyond. By encouraging naturist use of this shore we hope to foster the positive culture of body acceptance, encourage outdoor recreation and fitness, while increasing environmental awareness through eco-activism.

SUN was formed early in 2006 after SmartRail exposed the risk of a landslide caused train derailment from the BNSF tracks resulting in toxic chemicals being spilled into the waters of Boundary Bay. We support SmartRail's goal of relocating the BNSF railway to a safer inland railway corridor away from the shores of the South Surrey/White Rock peninsula. SUN endorses twinning a new freight line with the proposed high-speed rail planned for between Vancouver and Seattle by 2023 that will bypass the peninsula altogether, removing trains from the waterfront where they are a public safety menace and a Surrey's most dangerous environmental threat.

Founding members excavated mudslide debris off the 120 tonne Crescent Rock boulder just south of Crescent Beach and posted Crescent Rock Beach signage in June of 2006 bringing public attention to the nude-recreational use of this secluded shoreline and our diverse environmental concerns. SUN hopes that the cities of White Rock and Surrey will see the advantages of having an officially recognized naturist beach for their citizens and residents of the Fraser Valley who would otherwise have to drive their cars to the far end of Point Grey in Vancouver to visit Wreck Beach, further increasing vehicle traffic and greenhouse gas emissions.

Signage at Crescent Rock Beach removed by the City of Surrey
Photo by Don Pitcairn

SUN envisions the creation of a new Metro-Vancouver park from the Ocean Park bluff lands currently owned by the BNSF and the building of a nature trail on the old rail bed across the entire shoreline of the peninsula linking with the Delta Dike Trail at Mud Bay. This will result in a marathon length trail from the Peace Arch to Tsawwassen akin to morphing Vancouver's Seawall with the Okanagan's Kettle Valley Railway. This agrees with Metro Vancouver's Greenway Vision Plan for connecting greenbelts and parks with nature paths throughout neighbouring municipalities and is part of their long-term goal for joining White Rock, Surrey and Delta with a trail system.

SUN hopes to convince the governments of Surrey, White Rock, and B.C. to officially recognize Crescent Rock Beach as a naturist retreat for the 900,000 residents from Delta to Chilliwack that utilize the shores of the peninsula as their main marine recreational site. With naturism and environmentalism being rather synonymous, SUN will continue its eco-activist campaign to promote Crescent Rock Beach while bringing attention to the many risks that threaten to pollute or destroy the ecology of this unique and picturesque area.