WESTLOCK – With indoor rec facilities shuttered due to provincial COVID-19 lockdown protocols for at least another week, the Town of Westlock is looking to open two more outdoor skating rinks by the end of January.
Skaters have been flocking to the Eastglen outdoor skating rink since its mid-December opening, prompting the town to start construction on an 50 by 100-foot outdoor rink just south of the Rotary Spirit Centre, while the site for a third location has yet to be determined, although it will probably be in the downtown core.
Community services director Gerry Murphy said the idea was borne out of need as the RSC remains closed to the public until at least Jan. 21 when the province is scheduled to re-evaluate its current COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
“Our hope is to have three outdoor skating surfaces available to the public by the end of January, but that will be weather-dependent of course. A lot of people were thinking this would be a good idea especially with us having to close the Spirit Centre. (CAO) Simone (Wiley) mentioned it a few times, but (RSC manager) Danielle (Snyder) also had thoughts of this as well,” said Murphy.
“I think it will be well received. Our challenge will be access to water as we want them in areas of high visibility to make sure it’s a safe environment for people.
“But there are some caveats and it depends on what the province does. If we can open up the Spirit Centre on or about the 21st then we’ve got preparations to make there which might push it back.”
The new rinks aren’t meant for hockey like Eastglen and won’t have any boards or nets, said Murphy.
“The intention is for kids to be skating and we don’t want any sticks or pucks out there,” he confirmed.
Murphy said crews have also been checking the ice depth at the Whissellville-area storm pond with an eye on an outdoor rink there for next winter. He said the town has also started thinking about some kind of a winter festival that would be hosted in that area.
“The big question to be answered there is the water level under the ice and is it stable? It is a storm-water retention pond and I’m sure in the summer it has fluctuating water levels. If the water levels are stable in the winter we can create a skating surface on it,” Murphy explained.
“The danger with those ponds is that they freeze on top, but if the water fluctuates underneath it can create air pockets which can create a hazard.
“But if we can create a skating surface there that might the first step to being a location for a winter festival. That’s a goal. But there are summer amenities we want to add there as well. It’s a bit of jewel of Westlock and we want to build on it.”
