The City will be opening a skating rink in the field at the Montrose Cultural Centre (Photo: Shaun Penner)

By Emily Keller

outdoor skating rink

Family skating rink to open next to Montrose Cultural Centre

Jan 21, 2020 | 12:32 PM

The field next to the Montrose Cultural Centre will soon be home to a temporary ice rink.

The field has been plowed and is set to be flooded and usable within a week.

Arlen Miller, Community Services Director with the City, says the skating rink will not be meant for speed skating or for ice hockey, but for family skating.

“Our plan is to have a fire pit, and we’ll supply some firewood as well. We’re probably going to ask for some volunteers to man the fire site, turn some music on through the Montrose Cultural Centre and just make it an experience for families to go down and enjoy some winter fun.”

Miller says the project was initiated by the DownTown Association, and that Wendy Bosch, the Executive Director of the Association, had approached the City about possibly doing the project next winter. Miller says they decided they could make it happen this winter, and most likely next winter as well for a low cost.

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“It’s City-owned equipment so it will be a fairly low maintenance as well and it will be minimal water to do the surface. It’s a fairly level site, (and) we’ll make it decent but it’s not going to be NHL-type quality ice, obviously.” chuckled Miller.

He says they will also be adding benches, and that they will be meeting with the DownTown Association to work out the final details.

Miller adds that he is thankful to the Association and believes this will bring more people to the downtown core. The rink is planned to be available until the ice melts.