OLDS — Outdoor skating rinks set up in the community have been a great success, but they may be lacking one thing – enough garbage receptacles, council was told.
Operations director Scott Greico said in the end, 10 outdoor skating rinks were created this season. He said an 11th one had to be "abandoned” due to problems with a tarp.
“The rinks are very well used. There is sporadic use, due to weather conditions. But they are certainly an amenity that the residents of Olds are enjoying,” he said in a report to council.
However, Greico conceded town officials have “struggled a little bit” with the extreme cold experienced earlier.
Greico and protective services director Justin Andrew said this season, the rinks were created by laying down agricultural plastic as liners for the rinks.
“That has resulted in us using a lot less water than (in) previous years,” Greico said. “And, you know, it’s been a good process with respect to those liners. We’ve had good success there.”
Coun. Wanda Blatz asked if the liners can be reused.
Greico said they can, if they’re not torn.
Andrew agreed.
“The intent is, yeah, we would reuse them if they would allow it, if we could repair them,” he said. “We’re hoping – fingers crossed. This spring will tell.”
Greico said town officials have received “really good feedback” over the town’s decision to supply benches and snow shovels at the rink.
Several councillors said they too have received compliments from residents regarding the rinks and their amenities.
Coun. James Cummings said the enthusiasm for the rinks has been impressive.
“I’m a big fan of this,” he said.
He said at a rink behind his house, one resident appears to have created – and operates -- his own homemade ice grooming machine.
Cummings said he left a goalie stick there that he had lying around and was impressed to later find more sticks left out there by other residents.
Coun. Heather Ryan said one thing appears to be missing at the rinks, though: garbage receptacles.
“I’m not sure how the budget will go for that, but I just thought I would mention that; a future thing that we might have to think about,” Ryan said.
Mayor Judy Dahl agreed. She said more garbage receptacles appear to be needed along trails in town as well.
“I also notice a lot of doggie bags on the trail and thrown into the side ditch too, so I don’t know if it’s because they don’t have enough receptacles – garbage stands around the trail, but they’re not waiting until they get home,” Dahl said.
Greico said outdoor rinks and the amenities to be provided for them -- perhaps including garbage cans -- could be a topic when council and staff discuss the level of service the Town plans to provide in the future.
