The outdoor rink program operates 39 sites across the City with many sites offering multiple ice surfaces.
The outdoor rink program is administered as a part of the Outdoor Rink Policy which defines the categories of rink site service level and target use rates (number of users per hour).
Target Usage Rates
| Site Category | Target Usage Rate (number of users per hour) -as defined in the Outdoor Rink Policy |
|---|---|
|
Refrigerated (at Prince Arthur’s Landing only) |
N/A |
|
Boarded, Parks Supervised (with heated facilities) |
10 |
|
Boarded, Community Supervised (with heated facilities) |
5 |
|
Boarded, Unsupervised |
3 |
|
Unboarded, Unsupervised (Pond) |
1 |
Participant Counts/Actual Average Usage Rates
Participant counts are conducted each year and recommendations for service levels are based on usage rates.
| Outdoor Rinks Program, Participants Per Hour - 5 Year Averages (2018-2022 and 2019-2023) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| North | |||
| Boarded, Parks Supervised | Participant per Hour Rate 5 year average (2018-2022) |
Participant per Hour Rate 5 year average (2019-2023) |
Rink Policy Target Rate |
| Carrick Park | 8.88 | 8.83 | 10 |
| North End Park | 8.62 | 7.77 | 10 |
| West End Park | 6.02 | 5.35 | 10 |
| Brent Park | 5.12 | 4.99 | 10 |
| Waddington Park | 4.28 | 4.22 | 10 |
| Oliver Rd. Park | 3.99 | 4.07 | 10 |
| Boarded, Community Supervised | |||
| North McIntyre Park | 4.23 | 4.39 | 5 |
| Castlegreen Co-op (Private Property) | 1.34 | 0.92 | 5 |
| Boarded, Unsupervised | |||
| River Terrace Park | 3.26 | 3.11 | 3 |
| Volunteer Pool Park | 2.57 | 2.22 | 3 |
| Jumbo Gardens Park | 2.37 | 2.48 | 3 |
| County Park | 2.22 | 2.03 | 3 |
| John Kusznier Park | 1.63 | 1.56 | 3 |
| Third & High Park | 1.43 | 1.40 | 3 |
| Wilson Park | 1.12 | 1.02 | 3 |
| Unboarded, Unsupervised (Ponds) | |||
| Woodside Parkette | 0.38 | 0.35 | 1 |
| Anten Parkette | 0.2 | 0.12 | 1 |
| Picton Parkette | 0.06 | 0.04 | 1 |
| Regional Recreational Specialty Sites | |||
| Marina Park | 19.92 | 20.83 | N/A |
| South | |||
| Boarded, Parks Supervised | |||
| West Thunder Park | 11.56 | 10.85 | 10 |
| Northwood Playfield | 9.20 | 9.26 | 10 |
| Tarbutt Park | 7.28 | 6.68 | 10 |
| Wayland Park | 6.49 | 6.52 | 10 |
| Frank Charry Park | 3.67 | 3.71 | 10 |
| Boarded, Community Supervised | |||
| South Neebing Park | 3.77 | 4.08 | 5 |
| Vickers Heights Park | 3.00 | 2.78 | 5 |
| West Arthur Park | 2.41 | 2.50 | 5 |
| Boarded, Unsupervised | |||
| Stanley Park | 3.38 | 3.32 | 3 |
| Parkdale Park | 2.76 | 2.73 | 3 |
| Minnesota Park | 2.74 | 2.50 | 3 |
| North Neebing Park | 2.55 | 2.81 | 3 |
| Dease Park | NEW in 2022/23 | 3.80 | 3 |
| Unboarded, Unsupervised (ponds) | |||
| Green Acres Park | 1.18 | 1.26 | 1 |
| Thornloe Parkette | 1.18 | 1.43 | 1 |
| Friendship Gardens | 0.97 | 1.03 | 1 |
| Franklin Park | 0.36 | 0.62 | 1 |
| **Confederation Drive | 0.23 | 0.15 | 1 |
| **Vale Community | 0.23 | -- | 1 |
| Holt Parkette | 0.19 | 0.37 | 1 |
| Regional Recreational Specialty Sites | |||
| Vickers Park Trail | NEW in 2021/2022 | 4.30 | N/A |
Rinks Recommended for Further Review
Based on declining usage rates over the 5 year period from 2018-2022, 11 rinks have been recommended for a service level review. The review process will take place over the 2022/23 and 2023/24 skating seasons, during which time rinks will maintain current levels of service.
Should usage levels not increase, the following rinks would be recommended for downgrade or discontinuation*:
| Unboarded, Unsupervised (ponds) - recommended to be discontinued | Boarded, unsupervised - Recommended to be downgraded to Unboarded, Unsupervised (pond) | Boarded, Parks Supervised - Recommended downgrade to Boarded, Unsupervised |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
*Notice was provided via letter to the residents in the areas surrounding the rinks identified above in January 2023. In addition, signage has been posted at each site.
** Notice of the proposed discontinuation of the Confederation Drive and Vale Community Unboarded, Unsupervised ponds was provided to the residents surrounding the sites via letter and signage during the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons. Based on continued low usage rates during the review, both sites were recommended to be discontinued. As a result, the unboarded, unsupervised pond at Vale Community has been eliminated. Notice was delivered via letter to the residents surrounding the Confederation Drive site that the review of that particular site has been extended through the 2022/23 season.
Participant Counts
During the review period, a third-party contractor will collect data on participant numbers by conducting counts at all sites between February 1 and February 21, including the Family Day weekend.
Note: counts are not taken when the temperature is below -15 Celsius or during periods when the rinks are unavailable because they are snow covered or while there is flooding in progress.
Counts will be completed on seven separate days, selected at random. Weekend counts will be conducted between 1 pm and 7 pm and weekday counts between 3 pm and 9 pm. Counts will be conducted hourly at each site over a six hour period and will include skaters, people in change rooms and spectators.
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