The warm weather means outdoor ice rinks in Newmarket and surrounding areas are winding down, but some are still fighting to keep them open.
The Town of Newmarket’s skating rink at Riverwalk Commons is closed until further notice as warm weather sets in this week, but the town hopes it can reopen for a time. The Town of Aurora, meanwhile, has formally declared that its rinks are closed for the season.
The Lions Park Community Hockey Rink is also starting to wind down, but organizer Chris Howie said he is still trying to have at least part of the ice available for the March break.
“I'm hoping the forecast changes for the weekend to try and open for a day or morning,” he said. “My goal is to get through March break. Long shot this year but I have to try.”
Temperatures have stayed high in Newmarket in recent days and that is expected to continue. As of March 5, Environment Canada forecasts daytime highs to be above freezing every day through March 11, with a chance of rain or snow over the weekend.
Newmarket's parks and facilities department has closed the rink but said refrigeration could allow for reopening.
“Newmarket is very pleased to be able to offer outdoor skating to the community for a longer season due to our investment in an outdoor refrigeration system at Riverwalk Commons,” the town said. “It is our hope to reopen, however reopening is conditional upon the weather conditions. If the weather reaches a desirable temperature that will keep the ice in a good and safe skating condition, we will reopen skating to the public.”
But the Town of Aurora has called it a season for its rinks.
“Despite the hard work of our parks staff, the warmer temperatures have made it tough to maintain our outdoor rinks,” Aurora said in a news release.
Howie said he wants to keep the rink going so the kids can have something enjoyable for the break.
“I never went away for March break, so trying to save it for those kids that don’t get a chance to head south,” he said.
