Skating Rink Project Thread

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dovercourtpark

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Nov 18, 2013, 8:23:54 AM11/18/13

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"The only open space that most of us saw from one year to the next was the [Dovercourt Park]. The winter sports were especially enjoyable as most children from the school and the surrounding area were in the park either skating on the pleasure rink or playing on one of the two rinks that were boarded off for hockey. The pleasure skating rink was especially good for meeting friends. Boys and girls."

Herbert Franklin, Street Stories of Toronto. 1996. Reflecting on the Dovercourt Ice Rink in the 1950s Toronto City Archives

The process of creating a natural ice rink with the City is one that demands cost/resource sharing, so we're looking for a committed team of volunteers to manage this project. I can connect those involved with our contact in Councillor Bailão's office and I would recommend touching base with someone at the Parks Department and City Rinks.

The City site says "The extended season for 14 outdoor rinks is scheduled to begin on Saturday, November 23. The City will make every effort to open these rinks as scheduled weather permitting. The start date for Albert Campbell Square has been revised due to on-going mechanical repairs."

We may be a little late to the party, but I'm confident we can do this!

Most natural ice rinks are developed by building a 5 cm layer of frost in the soil before starting the rink by thorough soaking the ground designated to be a rink area when freezing weather is expected to form an ice seal. Since it's not freezing on a regular basis just yet, we should be OK. For more information on building an ice rink: http://www.cityrinks.ca/wiki/uploads/NaturalIceRinks/OldsABAdoptarink.pdf

All interested parties please respond to this thread to form the FIRST ANNUAL SKATING RINK PROJECT COMMITTEE!

We Need:

Committee Organizers: to plan and oversee the committee's activities.
Ice Rink Managers: to build the rink and oversee ice rink maintenance.
Volunteer Coordinators: to lead community engagement and volunteer drives.

Committees are expected to have one representative report to the group at monthly meetings (Next Dec 14th @ 2:00).