Outdoor skating rink at Riverside Park to open on January 7

“We anticipate that we’ll be able to have ice in there from December until March, of course that is weather dependent,” Holmes said, at a recent city committee meeting. “When the ice is out, the area will be transformed into a concrete slab with a great walking loop for roller skating, rollerblading, and we also have an area that is adjacent there for food trucks.”

Construction on the rink began early last year, and the city says it will be open between 10:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and between 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The rink will be unsupervised with signs and safety protocols in place, though Holmes said the ice will be maintained seven days a week during the four-month-long operating season.

She also said the facility will include amenities like benches, fire pits with a safety shut-off button and high sides, and rubberized walkways as well as soft, ambient lighting.

“Our architects and engineers were going for a really beautiful, welcoming — romantic, was the word they used — look and feel to the space to make sure that’s really, creates that very lovely environment for people to be in,” Holmes added.

“We really do see this as a beautiful, year-round space that’s multi-functional for community access. This will add vibrancy and livability to Kamloops and be a really great gathering space in the heart of the community.”

At this time, there are no plans to close the skating facility to accommodate private functions, though the city says the facility will be able to support community events and gatherings.

A grand opening event will be held on Saturday, Jan. 17 between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., and the City of Kamloops is promising “an afternoon of winter fun” with feature food trucks, special guests, skate rentals and more.

“The Riverside Park outdoor skating facility will serve as a lively, welcoming hub for winter recreation,” added Jeff Putnam, the city’s parks and streets manager. “We’re excited to invite the community to celebrate this new addition, which enhances the vitality and livability of Kamloops year-round.”

For now, you’ll have to bring your own skates and helmets, as the city is still working on a partnership to offer that service. It’s not clear if it will be in place before the shortened inaugural skating season wraps up this March.

“It seems as though most places are pretty tapped on capacity, both capacity of product to rent and capacity of staff to do that, but we are still actively working with our partners at Tourism Kamloops to try and figure something out,” Holmes said.

For more information on the outdoor rink, go here.

by Victor Kaisar

Outdoor skating rink at Riverside Park to open on January 7

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