An outdoor skating rink will give Riversong families a way to stay connected in the winter, says the organizer of a community-led initiative to build a shinny pond in the neighbourhood’s park.
“In the winter, you just don’t see people outside as often,” said resident Robyn Nadeau, who is spearheading the drive. “It would be a really great place for the community to gather.”
Nadeau was inspired to reach out to other Riversong-ians after hearing about other towns and cities in Alberta that have transformed their summer spaces into winter wonderlands during the colder months.
Her own sons, who are seven and four years old, also both love to get out on the ice, so she shared her thoughts about possibly creating an outdoor rink on a community Facebook group.
“I wasn’t the only one thinking along those lines,” Nadeau recalled, after dozens of people responded positively to her social media note. “I put it out there, and a lot of people have come forward to offer support in any way they can.”
Support has also come from the Town of Cochrane. Parks and Open Spaces Manager Gerry Murphy said workers surveyed the space and believe it’s feasible to erect a rink in a section of the River Heights Boulevard playground.
“There’s an area within that park that’s kind of flat and would support a rink,” he said.
The town maintains two outdoor skating surfaces – one at Mitford Pond and another in the East End – and Murphy said he warns people every year against the dangers of venturing onto unsanctioned spaces, like retention ponds.
“They look like little lakes but they’re not lakes, they are holding areas for storm water. The water levels can change dramatically – they can be quite unsafe,” he said.
Grassroots movements like Nadeau’s are invaluable, he added, because they ultimately create more safe places for residents to be outside in winter.
“That’s why we want to support any initiatives that are put forward by community associations that enhance the recreation for their community, and for Cochrane as a whole.”
Next step for Nadeau is to put together a formal proposal, which will detail how the rink will be constructed and who will maintain it. Some challenges the neighbourhood still needs to work out include where to get the water supply and how to stabilize the rink without deep stakes, as to not disturb any underground sprinkler lines.
Murphy said once the plan is submitted and the details shake out, “approvals should be pretty easy,” meaning the Riversong rink can be up and running whenever the weather is ready to comply.
Nadeau is encouraged by the enthusiasm from the town – and by the encouragement of the people in her community, many who have already jumped in with offers to help whip up the frosty season’s field of dreams.
“It’s just another thing that brings people together,” she said. “How much fun would that be?”
-30-
