The city鈥檚 three outdoor rinks have been popular with local skaters this year, according to City of Estevan parks manager Rod March.
Estevan is operating with three outdoor rinks for the first time in a number of years, with the new outdoor rink in the Hillside area complimenting the rinks in the Westview subdivision and at the Rusty Duce Play Park rink in the Pleasantdale area.
The rink are maintained by volunteers, with the Kinsmen and Kinettes clubs operating the Hillside rink, the Estevan Lions Club responsible for the Rusty Duce facility and local residents tending to Westview鈥檚 rink.
鈥淭he volunteer base, we can鈥檛 say enough good things about,鈥� said March. 鈥淲ithout them, we wouldn鈥檛 have the rinks going, because we don鈥檛 have the staff to keep everything up.鈥�
The city helps out when necessary, but most of the work is driven by volunteers.
Outdoor rinks opened for the season just before Christmas, when the temperatures were cold enough to make ice. While they were quiet at first, due to the frigid temperatures the first week of the Christmas break, activity picked up early in 2018, and the rinks have remained busy.
The new outdoor rink at the Kin Hillside Play Park has proven to be popular, he said. (For more on the rink, see this week鈥檚 edition of 麻豆视频east Lifestyles).
The Hillside rink has reduced pressure on the Rusty Duce ice surface and the Westview site, although March said there are plenty of users at those two facilities.
鈥淎ll three are getting tonnes and tonnes of use,鈥� said March.
Before the Hillside rink arena opened, March said the city received some complaints about some users hogging the ice at Rusty Duce. People have been respectful of other users this season.
March views the rinks as a great way for kids and adults alike to get out and play shinny, and they鈥檙e also a great way for people of all ages to get out and skate.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just hockey,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of great skating going on.鈥�
A proper fence has been added to the Westview arena, and new boards will be added for next winter.
March said he would like to see an outdoor rink for the Hillcrest area eventually, which would leave the city with outdoor rinks in each corner of the city. He hopes it can happen for next winter, if funds are available.
