A new outdoor ice rink has opened in Port Credit that is designed for warming temperatures. The Port Credit Memorial Park Skating Trail will allow Canadians to enjoy outdoor sports, despite the warming temperatures that are predicted with climate change.
Underground piping is what allows the rink to be operational even when it’s not cold enough for ice to freeze. This new technology is said to be the key to having more outdoor rinks throughout the country.
“The ultimate goal behind all of this was to make a free and family-friendly place that everyone would have fun using,” said Ward One Mississauga Councillor Stephen Dasko.
The skating loop is 220 metres long and 3.5 metres wide, and cost about $1.9 million. Funding for it came from Dasko’s discretionary Ward 1 funds.
Several outdoor rinks have closed with the warming winter temperatures over the past few years. The Rideau Canal and the Harbourfront rink are two of the larger rinks that have closed with the rising temperatures caused by climate change.
This project was also to help local businesses and bring more people to the area.
“In the winter months, it’s very tough for businesses down here; hopefully people will want to come down and have a bite to eat or visit a local shop and support our local businesses,” Dasko said.
Dasko believes that more needs to be done to give people access to winter recreational spaces like this one.
“We don’t just have to have indoor activities,” said Dasko. “We can do things outdoors as well and more spaces like this one should be built for sure.”
The skating trail officially opened its doors to the public on Friday, January 19.
Dasko was pleased to see the support he received from the community; he said that over 200 people showed up to the opening and it was a great success.
“It was great to see everybody with smiles on their faces as they were skating around the rink,” Dasko said.
The trail has it’s very own Zamboni called ‘Pinguino’. It is fully electric and exclusive to that area.
Stephan is one of the Zamboni drivers at the trail; he says that it’s been a great experience working there so far. “As much as it is a job, it’s fun. It’s very enjoyable.”
Lora Milne has been living in Mississauga for 20 years; she said this trail will help her try a sport that she’s long wanted to do.
“I just went to buy skates the other day and I will be trying this out for the first time; I am very grateful to have such a great space in my community,” Milne said.
She says that her favourite thing about the trail is the sense of community that it creates and the people that it brings in every day.
“I love walking by here every morning and seeing how happy people are to have a place to enjoy doing what they love,” Milne said.
The Port Credit Memorial Park Skating Trail will be having its grand opening event on February 17.
The event will be free and feature ice sculptures, local vendors, and food trucks. There will also be performances by members of the Mississauga Figure Skating Club.
“If you want to come down to enjoy the rink and everything that our community has to offer, then this is the place to be on 17 February,” Dasko said.