Thursday night saw the return of cold weather – and the return of a tradition at Innisfil Beach Park.
Town of Innisfil Operations staff were out on Thursday evening, beginning to flood the pad for an outdoor ice rink, overlooking the shores of Lake Simcoe.
It was the first time this winter that temperatures have been low enough, and staff were busy, setting up the fencing and using hoses to create outdoor skating rinks at both Innisfil Beach Park and an area outside the Stroud Arena – which remains closed due to COVID-19.
A more permanent outdoor ice rink is already in place at the Cookstown Library and Community Centre, 20 Church St. in Cookstown, that is open daily from dawn to 11 p.m. (weather-permitting). Due to COVID-19, however, all users must self-screen, and there are occupancy limits in place.
At this time, the maximum number of users on the Cookstown ice at any one time is six.
Johnny Keogh, communications and engagement lead for the town says it will take up to two weeks for the rinks at Innisfil Beach Park and Stroud to be ready for use.
"We are moving as fast as we can," he said, "the rinks are very much a work in progress and are not safe to use right now. We know how eager people are but we are asking the public to not use them just yet."
As for keeping the rinks post-pandemic, he says it is a possibility, pending input from the community and council.
