When the weather allows, the city will be making ice at Hollinger Park.
At this week's Timmins council meeting, the Timmins Community Park Association's Mark Rogers and Peter Lawryniw gave an update about what the not-for-profit organization has been up to.
The group was created more than a year ago and is aimed at promoting healthy outdoor activities year-round in the city.
While there was no skating at Hollinger Park last year, it will return this winter.
It will be run differently than in the past.
Rogers told council the TCPA and city have signed a memorandum of understanding outlining the rules and responsibilities for a partnership applying to the maintenance and programming at municipal parks.
“In the case of the Hollinger Park, the City of Timmins will be responsible for the creation and maintenance of the skating surface and providing access to the washroom facilities, while the TCPA will provide programming and the trailer,” he said.
Having the city take over the ice surface is new.
At Sk8te Hollinger, which operated for three years, the surface was created and maintained by volunteers.
“Council is aware that we’ve had previous partnerships in the park, our challenge was to provide a volunteer organization that could consistently...provide ice on an annual basis," said Mark Jensen, director of community and development services.
The new skating path will be on the east side of Hollinger Park on the walking trail.
Jensen said the base is done. When weather conditions allow, he said they'll start making ice.
“We plan on making ice as soon as we can this year, but definitely early, early next year at the latest,” he said.
Rogers said the TCPA has bought a 12 x 40-foot heated office trailer to use as a warming and change place for skaters, as well as for an office and small concession. He said it will be ready to move in in the next couple weeks.
The TCPA's programming extends beyond Hollinger Park.
In March, they're hosting the 2nd Annual Family Fun Day at Roy Nicholson Park on Pine Street North. Starting in December 2019, outdoor events will also be held at different parks across the city on the third Saturday of each month.
Lawryniw said the calendar of events will be posted online shortly.
“It’s basically a hat full of ideas right now, we’re just trying to figure out which ones are the most feasible to get done. We want to do them quickly, but we don’t want to do them so quickly that we’re not doing them properly,” he said.
To learn more about the TCPA, visit their Facebook page or email [email protected]
