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The record-breaking warm weather in Red Deer this week has City of Red Deer crews busy cleaning storm drains and trying to preserve outdoor rinks.
On Wednesday, a record high of 12.7C was set for Feb. 15, and then Thursday another record high was set for Feb. 16 of 11C. The previous record high for Feb. 17 was 7.5C in 1981. On Friday the forecast was for a high of 6C.
These temperatures have resulted in the city’s Public Works Department cleaning frozen storm drains and clogged culverts around the city to prevent water pooling.
Crews are also working to clear snow and ice from storm drains in laneways to ensure proper drainage for run-off. Citizens can call Public Works at 403-342-8238 if they see problem storm drains or significant amounts of water pooling in one area.
As for the outdoor rinks, the warm temperatures have softened the ice, making them difficult to maintain. Some have become unusable.
The Parks Department istrying to prolong the life of rinks as long as conditions co-operate. On Friday, the department issued a list of rinks till recommended for use.
These include: Aspen Heights - hockey rink (Northey Avenue) ; Bower Ponds - skating pond; Bower Place - hockey rink (Boyce Street); Camille J. LaRouge - hockey rink (44th Avenue); Clearview - hockey rink (Cornett Drive); Eastview - hockey rink (Embury Crescent); Eastview Estates - hockey rink at Joseph Welsh Elementary School (Ellenwood Drive); Fairview Elementary - snowbank rink (55th Street); Grandview - hockey rink (46th Street); Inglewood - hockey rink (Inglewood Drive); Johnstone Park - hockey rink (Jewell Street); Kentwood - hockey rink (Krause Crescent); Lancaster - hockey rink (Lancaster Drive); Lonsdale - hockey rink (Lawford Avenue); Morrisroe – hockey rink at Annie L. Gaetz School (McIntosh Avenue); Morrisroe – hockey rink (McLean Street) ;Normandeau – hockey rink (71st Street); Oriole Park – hockey rink (Ogden Avenue); Riverside Meadows – hockey rink (57th Avenue); Rotary Park Oval (47th Avenue); Woodlea – hockey rink (42nd Avenue); and Westpark – hockey rink at Westpark Elementary School (39th Street)