Proposed Eugenia Ice Rink Location (Image from Grey Highlands council)
Grey Highlands staff is looking into a community request to relocate a Eugenia community outdoor ice rink.
Council approved having staff investigate a new ice rink location during a meeting on Jan. 15 after receiving the request from the Eugenia District Community Improvement Association.
Association Chairperson Ron Barnett says after five years of having the outdoor rink at the community park in Eugenia, the organization has been experiencing some issues.
“Outdoor rinks have had many problems over the last few years with fluctuating temperatures, not so much this year, but in the past, and because there is no water at the community park, we have had to truck it in. It gets expensive, especially when you have to keep doing it repeatedly over the course of the winter, roughly $200 a truckload,” says Barnett.
In addition to a lack of parking, Barnett says they wish to relocate the rink to the Eugenia Beach parking lot.
“Water is readily available, we will pump it from the lake, we have all the equipment we need to do that. Parking is available right there on site. We would separate the rink from parking with snow fence, and there is also easy access for emergency vehicles if need be,” says Barnett.
Barnett adds with the current polar vortex, he feels it is an ideal time to get moving on setting up the new ice rink.
After discussion, council approved having staff investigate the new proposed location.