The arrival of spring means the end of outdoor skating as the Town of Newmarket is closing its outdoor ice rinks as of March 15.
The municipality announced that the Riverwalk Commons and Lions Park rink would close that day for the season. This comes with temperatures well above freezing and rainfall expected over the weekend.
“Thanks for lacing up and making this winter one to remember, and shout-out to staff who weathered the cold and snowy season to keep the rinks open for all,” the town said on social media.
The town said the community had more than 110 days of free outdoor skating at the Riverwalk Commons and more than 70 days of free shinny at Lions Park. This year also marked the first year that the town took over management of the Lions Park rink from longtime volunteer Chris Howie.
Weather led to a rink closure earlier on Tuesday, March 11 as well, though the town reopened the rink again on Wednesday for a few more days of winter skating.
“We had a wonderful skating season, but spring is around the corner,” Councillor Bob Kwapis said on social media. “Thank you, Newmarket, for a successful winter season.”
The town said that the Mercedes-Benz Newmarket water feature at the Riverwalk Commons should open sometime in May.