Churchill Park Skating Rinks - Westdale

OUTDOOR RINK BUILDING 101 - "SNOW" - A follow up to our closure for the week...we need everyone to PLEASE STAY OFF the rinks (Snow included).

Years ago, making an outdoor rink was very time consuming, but -10 or colder weather would allow us to make a rink almost anywhere!

In our new warmer climate, the only way to build ice is to a) Have sub zero temp and layer slowly or B) Use snow to build depth.

After a snowfall on the rinks, we then proceed to wet it, using the hose to spray evenly like a nice rain mist. The snow then turns into a slushy even surface which hardens usually overnight. We then layer it with water for many hours to build the ice to our desired thickness (3-4 inches). 5cm of snow can lead to 2-3 inches of solid ice if done properly...SO we really need the snow to be left alone IF POSSIBLE...see the photo below...the footprints (from today) now will be the ice surface...and fixing this takes many many hours.

NOTE: If the rinks are already in great shape and have the proper depth, then we remove all snow, but to build we need all of it left on and undisturbed!

We are getting nature to sort of cooperate...now all we need is help from all of YOU...this is YOUR RINK, so kindly tell people to STAY OFF when they are closed, so that we can get everyone skating and having another outlet during this trying time!

THANKS!

Churchill Skating Rinks Volunteer Group

ALL RINKS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE (Jan 3rd - ?) - We tried our best yesterday to fix yet another person or people doing major damage to the rinks on Friday night (Leaving piles of snow, embedded skate marks and ripped tarps on the only 3 rinks that were being used - see photo!) , but cold weather never occurred last night so the rinks need a break from skating and we need some cold weather to build them back up. We have posted signs and will UPdate via email / Facebook to the community. Thanks to some neighbors that will help remind those coming to leave them alone until we can fix them properly...but for the meantime, PLEASE STAY OFF THE RINKS. Thanks! Churchill Skating Rinks Volunteer Group.

RINKS ARE OPEN TODAY (Dec 31st) - Yesterday, we had lots of kids and adults skating, playing a little shinny and having tons of fun before the rain storm...which helped smooth over the ice BUT we also lost an inch of surface. All rinks can be skated on BUT PLEASE NOTE there are spots where the tarps are exposed, so put a pylon on those areas (Bring a pylon if you have one at home that we can use). and IF YOU GO THROUGH A SPOT, PLEASE PUT A PYLON OVER THAT AREA. We'll do our best to keep patching the spots if you help us identify them and don't make them any worse. We'll close the rinks later on tonight to get a nice thick flood so we can have some 2021 skating! Please stay off the ice after we surface flood at night. If you have teens or know any young adults in the area, please tell them to stay off later on to let the ice settle. We are looking at some warm weather in the horizon, so any damage will be very hard to fix after this! Thanks!

Hello all,

weather is so unpredictable...one day cold, next hot etc...so unfortunately because of this and the thin ice, we are fixing the rink that was wrecked this week...please use the rinks when available but please use common sense. Fixing Rink #2 so far has taken 20 man hours, 60 bins of snow, 3 rolls of tuck tape and many cold hands/knees and some sore backs so far...and will require about 6 hours of gentle layering!

We know everyone is anxious to use the rinks as we may be one of the only outdoor rinks in Hamilton? We have made a map to let people know what rinks are for what purpose. Also we will close them as we need to to fix, layer or just to make sure there is ice for the long term. If the rinks are closed (Caution tape all the way around), please stay off...it is to help us keep them strong going through hot weather / rain. If you are skating and do go through, cover the hole with a pylon so no one else goes through the same hole to avoid excess damage.

Today rinks #1, #3, #4 are open for limited use till 8pm to prepare for a full night of flooding. YOUNGER KIDS on #3, and #4 please ONLY. It needs a bit of scuffing up but will not sustain any adults or older kids.

Once again, please use common sense and place pylons where thin or bad spots exist to help others be aware of conditions. If you have a spare pylon at home...bring it over so we have enough!

Thanks!

A CHRISTMAS GIFT! Wow what a beautiful day to wake up to with the snow blanketing everything in sight. In light of the times we are in the snow brought out people into the park to get some exercise and some fresh air. Thanks to all the volunteers who spent Christmas day flooding over all the snow. We still need volunteers, so email [email protected] - even if you can only give us 1 hour! See some of the techniques used to help in the process to flood the snow for depth so we can be skating on Monday!