City asks residents not to use storm ponds for recreation

Dec 12, 2017 | 5:00 AM

The City of Grande Prairie is reminding residents to heed the significant safety risks associated with using the city’s storm ponds for recreational purposes.

“The ice thickness can vary drastically from one location to the next due to the storm pipes entering the ponds. This results in very unstable ice formations that present a risk to even walk on, without a monitoring program to measure ice thickness” said Robert Carroll, Transportation Services Manager for the City, in a release.

“City storm water ponds were never designed to be used for recreational activities.”

These storm water ponds are located throughout the city, and the list is included, but not limited to:

Ivy Lake
Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake Storm Facility
O’Brien Lake
Pinnacle Ridge and Pinnacle West
Royal Oaks North
Bickell’s Pond (Summerside)
Westgate East
Signature Falls

Grande Prairie Fire Department staff will be removing nets, boards and benches at all locations.

The city has noted multiple unauthorized rinks locations on storm water facilities. In some cases, it appears that ATVs and small tractors have been taken out on the ice.

Residents are reminded that the Use of Public Lands Bylaw (C-1078) prohibits the use of these ponds for skating and hockey. Vehicles are not permitted to access these sites.

“The pond at Muskoseepi is monitored and maintained by the City. Parks Operations maintains five outdoor hockey rinks and volunteers maintain over 25 neighbourhood park outdoor rinks,” said Josy Burrough, city parks manager, in a release.

“These sites provide many safe options for outdoor recreational skating.”

by Jordan Parker