Tsawwassen residents will soon have another reason to go play outside this summer with the addition of a giant chess board in town.

The nearly 11-square-foot playing surface—which will be located in a central public space yet to be determined—is an initiative of the Business Improvement Association of Tsawwassen and made possible with the help of a local business, service club, and plenty of handy high school students.

South Delta Secondary school teacher Doug Kroeker's Grade 8/9 applied skills class has been busy in recent weeks building the playing pieces.

The 14-inch diameter hardwood disks can be used for either chess or checkers. To add a distinct South Delta flair, each piece is emblazoned with the image of a different bird representing the various chessman—from chickadee pawns to a soaring eagle king.

Kroeker says the project is not for marks, but it reinforces what the students have learned throughout the school year.

"Most of the stuff that they're doing is now a repetition of what they did earlier on their projects. So in a lot of ways I didn't have to teach them that much," he says.

Pieces of poplar wood are jointed together, carved with an overhead router, painted, planed and laminated.

The addition of tiny feet will allow the chess pieces to glide easily across a vinyl-material playing board provided by Tsawwassen's South Side Flooring.

To help cover costs, the Tsawwassen Order of Old Bastards (TOOBs) service club has agreed to raise $2,500 for the creation of the outdoor game.

Executive director of the BIA Ana Arciniega said the oversized chess board idea came from the association's 2011 Annual General Meeting, the theme of which was "Do something big or something fun."

This fits both criteria. Plus, it's yet another opportunity for Tsawwassenites to enjoy an outdoor activity this summer, Arciniega said.