HomeMy WebLinkAboutCS-15-93THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE
Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Date: JULY 5, 1993
Report #: - —� File #:
Subject: NATURAL OUTDOOR ICE RINKS
Recommendations:
File #
Res. # – 4%
By -Law #
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and
Administration Committee recommend to Council the following;
1. THAT Report CS -15 -93 be received; and
2. THAT the volunteer representative for each of the four natural
ice rink committees be advised of Council's decisions and be
congratulated and thanked for their contribution.
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1.0 BACKGROUND
1.1 Following the submission of Report CS -03 -92 to the January
6,1992 General Purpose and Administration Committee staff were
directed through Resolution GPA -43 -92 "to contact various
groups in preparation for the 1993 ice skating season to
determine if there are volunteers willing to come forward and
assist in the preparation and maintenance of outdoor skating
rinks." Report CS -41 -92 to the December 7, 1992 General
Purpose and Administration Committee advised of the action
taken and recommended that the natural outdoor ice rink
program be undertaken by the volunteers in Stuart Park,
Courtice; Burketon Park and Waverly Park, Bowmanville.
Following our Report to Council a fourth group indicated
interest and were assisted with a rink at the former
Bowmanville Memorial Arena site on Queen Street. Council
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REPORT CS-15-93 ® 2 ® JULY 5, 1993
members were advised by memo of the group and action taken on
their behalf.
2.0 REPORT:
2.1 The four rinks were installed from late December through early
January. The volunteers were advised when the rinks were
installed and began to flood soon after.
2.2 In speaking with the volunteers and through observations
skating was available per location for the following estimated
days.
LOCATION APPROXIMATE DAYS OF USE
Stuart Park 55 days
Burketon Park 70 days
Waverly Park 40 days
Bowmanville Memorial Arena site 50 days
* Because of its favourable location and suitable weather
the rink could be started earlier and retained later in
the season.
2.3 The continual cold and snowy winter weather experienced in the
winter of 1993 and the work of the volunteers has extended the
natural outdoor rink program over a considerable portion of
the winter. All groups found the program successful and worth
while.
2.4 The groups reported that the children and other rink users
were helpful to the volunteers by regularly clearing the ice
of snow and making the fine cleaning and flooding less time
consuming.
2.5 The Waverly group expressed the lack of volunteers and the
distance from available water was a deterrent to their
efforts. With their concurrence it is recommended that their
efforts should be combined with the other Bowmanville
volunteers to produce one site in the core area of
Bowmanville.
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3.0 FUTURE OF THE PROGRAM:
3.1 Although success was experienced in 1993, it is uncertain if
favourable weather conditions will continue in future years,
however, it is believed the public appreciates the program and
staff feel that the interest shown can be built on to develop
a solid core of experienced volunteers.
3.2 The Community Services Department's continued role will be to
identify potential volunteers; to assist the volunteers to
organize; provide the rink location; provide insurance to the
public and the volunteers; provide initial setup and storage
of materials and act as liaison with third parties such as
school boards.
3.3 The volunteers will be responsible to organize themselves;
solicit new volunteers; train volunteers and assign tasks;
supervise the rinks; work with the Town in applying policy and
rules of operation and to provide equipment.
4.0 SUMMARY:
4.1 Staff have observed that the Stuart Park rink and the former
Bowmanville Memorial Arena site were regularly cleaned and
showed signs of regular use. The Waverly site was well
maintained until midway through the season at which time only
portions of the rink were regularly cleaned. Burketon
maintained its rink until late in the season when the park
naturally flooded to provide a large natural skating rink.
Staff support the continuation of the Outdoor Natural Ice Rink
Program.
4.2 The outdoor natural ice rink program is judged by the
volunteers to be worthwhile and should be continued. The
action of these volunteers working cooperatively to achieve
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REPORT CS -15 -93 - 4 - JULY 5® 1993
set goals has obvious benefits to the community which the
citizens and the Town appreciate and encourage.
Respectfully submitted,
Recommended for presentation
to the Committee,
Josep P. Caruana, erector Lawrence E. Ko eff,
Depa ment of Community Services Chief Adminis r tive Officer
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