The city has been working on its outdoor rinks, but none of them are ready for public use yet.
Staff began packing the bases of the rinks the week before Christmas and started flooding them last week, said parks supervisor Stan Cleaveley.
Current conditions are not ideal because “the temperatures are not constantly staying below freezing,” he added.
“Double-digit lows are preferable and there is minimal snow that is needed for a good base.”
Cleaveley said the city hopes to have a few rinks open by the end of this week and noted updates will be posted at orillia.ca/outdoorrinks.
Staff are currently preparing the rinks at Kitchener Park (25 Kitchener St.), Hillcrest Park (255 Matchedash St. N.) and Cornerstone Baptist Church (265 Coldwater Rd. W.).
Clearview Township closed its outdoor rinks due to concerns about COVID-19, but Cleaveley said the City of Orillia is “planning to open its rinks with clear signage advising users of the physical distancing requirements that must be adhered to.”
“When the rinks do open, users must responsibly enjoy these spaces so we can keep them open,” he said. “Skaters must maintain a physical distance of two metres (six feet) from those outside their household when you are on the ice and in all other areas. Outdoor rinks are for pleasure skating only; no hockey is permitted.”
Bylaw enforcement officers will visit the rinks and report any compliance issues to the city’s emergency management committee, he said.
