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Red Deer outdoor rinks should be usable in a week

Remember your helmets
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City worker Dean Durand was out on a chilly Friday morning getting the rinks in Bower subdivision ready. Photo by PAUL COWLEY

Neighbourhood outdoor rinks will be ready for skaters by Friday, and fingers are crossed that Bower Ponds, Anders On The Lake and West Lake will also be skate worthy.

John Eastwood, parks amenities supervisor with the city, said thin ice signs are still up at the natural ice surfaces.

“The ice itself is going along well. The heavy snow caused a bit of a delay, but we were able to clear it off and the ice is freezing nicely,” Eastwood said.

He said it’s paramount that the ice is 15 centimetres deep (six inches) so equipment can get out there and maintain it properly.

Reconstruction of the pavilion and dock at Bower Ponds is making ice access limited, he said.

When natural ice surfaces are safe to enjoy, the thin ice warning signs will be removed, and the city will alert the public.

The city has 37 outdoor neighbourhood boarded rinks for hockey and ringette. Beside each boarded rink, there’s a snowbank rink for other skaters.

“We’ve got crews on in the evening laying water down as well and throughout the day, and hopefully, we’ll get to the adequate depth we’re looking for,” Eastwood said.

Even if the temperature reaches above zero, the surface temperature should be good enough to maintain neighbourhood ice, he said.

When neighbourhood rinks are ready for use, nets will be put out and lights will be turned on for evening use.

Helmets are recommended at all times when skating.



szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com

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