While it may be hard to think of winter while the weather has been so hot as of late, the Rotary Club of Drumheller has plans in the works to offer residents a fun way to enjoy the frosty air this winter.
It is hoped by the end of October, the grassy area next to the Rotary Spray Park and World’s Largest Dinosaur will house a new, temporary skating rink for residents to enjoy over the winter.
The news comes after the specifications for the rink were approved by Town administration.
“We’re hoping for a three way partnership between the Rotary Club of Drumheller, the Town of Drumheller, and the Penitentiary,” said Rotary Club member Jay Garbutt.
The Rotary would provide the funding for the purchase of the rink, the Town would help set up the rink, and it is hoped a deal can be worked out whereby the Penitentiary could provide maintenance services.
“We’re happy the Town has approved the specifications of the skating rink we hoped for. The next step is to go through the proper channels to make sure the Penitentiary is on board. If that doesn’t work out, we’ll make sure the club will be able to fulfill the ongoing maintenance needs,” said Garbutt.
The rink is a portable, temporary structure that could be assembled each autumn and disassembled each spring.
The location, by the Spray Park, was chosen as a way to create a hub, with possible vending options for hot chocolate and more nearby. Garbutt hinted that other locations are possible should the chosen site present problems.
“The kind of rink we’re looking at can be put up and taken down each year, so the grassy area across from the spray park can be used during the summer as well. The Rotary already has a strong presence in that area with the Spray Park and now the Rotary Clock, so it fits to have the rink in that location,” said Garbutt.
The grass underneath the rink would be unharmed.
The idea for the portable rink was introduced last winter by Darcy Thompson, who brought it to the Rotary Club’s attention. There had been discussion in a meeting of Town Council to have the rink in place last winter, but it found to be too late to begin construction. The project then waited until now.
“We had to shelve the project for awhile, because we found out part way through the process the ground can’t be frozen during construction. We’re hoping everything gets down before the ground freezes,” said Garbutt.
Should the weather remain warm in October, it is hoped the rink will be in place by the end of the month, ideally even earlier.
“We’re hopeful once we’re ready, it won’t be more than 15 business days to delivery. Ideally it means the Town would have the pond assembled prior to the middle of October,” said Garbutt. “It’s small scale, but hopefully it’ll have a big impact. It’s one more great thing for people to do in Town. The club was very supportive of bringing a no cost to the public recreational activity to that area.”
