Could Cranbrook have three outdoor skating rinks next winter?
Possibly, according to Cranbrook council — if community groups come forward to maintain them.
The city is currently working on two requests for outdoor rinks – one in Slaterville and one in Gyro Park.
"We certainly won't address those requests this year, but perhaps in years going forward through council and the budgeting process, we would determine whether we have the opportunity to add one or two more to the one already in Baker Park," said Wayne Staudt, Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Cranbrook.
However, Coun. Denise Pallesen said outdoor rinks are not cheap.
“I’m not sure we can afford to put two more in,” she said. “It would be quite expensive to set up and maintain, because as it is now on Baker Park, the crews can only maintain it when they are available. They don’t have set times to do that.”
But that’s not to say council shouldn’t consider it, she went on.
“I’m not saying we shouldn’t do it or we shouldn’t encourage the community to do it,” said Coun. Pallesen. “If we can get somebody to adopt it or get a couple of groups to do it, I’m all for that.”
Coun. Bob Whetham agreed that might be the way to go.
“It provides the opportunity for neighbourhoods that are quite active to take advantage of something without incurring big expenses for the city. That may be the kind of idea we could explore.”