HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-06-078 - Leisure Facilities Master Plan (Recommendation 21) Outdoor Winter Rinks
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Community Services
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Report To:
Date of Meeting:
Submitted By:
Prepared By:
Ward(s) Involved:
Date of Report:
Report No.:
Subject:
Community Services Committee
June 12, 2006
Mark Hildebrand,lnterim Director, Community Programs and
Services (ext 2687)
Lolita Paroski, Coordinator Summer Playgrounds, BYLD,
Winter Rinks (ext 2389)
All
May 30,2006
CSD-06-078
LEISURE FACILITIES MASTER PLAN (RECOMMENDATION
#21) OUTDOOR WINTER RINKS
RECOMMENDATION:
That recommendation 21 of the leisure Facilities Master Plan which states that "The
outdoor rinks program continue based on its current format", be approved.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Kitchener outdoor winter rinks program has been actively organized for more than
20 years. Outdoor rinks offering free public skating are located throughout Kitchener in city
parks, public school yards, and city-owned property around community centres.
These rinks are geographically dispersed throughout the City so that they are within walking
distance for the children, youth and adults in the neighbourhood who use them as well as the
volunteers who create and maintain them. Given that volunteers often flood or clear the rinks in
the late hours of the evening or early hours of the morning, this proximity is very important for
the success of the program. The proximity also makes it easier for volunteers to monitor the
rinks to promote maintenance and safety.
The Waterloo Region District School Board has been a long term partner with the program.
Many outdoor rinks are located on School board property, and the Waterloo Region District
School Board provides the necessary basic equipment and supplies such as shovels, hoses,
and water supply, provides storage during the off season, and lights the rinks, where possible,
in the evenings. The School Board also helps to recruit and support volunteers and promotes
the use of the rinks.
Volunteer committees at each rink coordinate the operation of each ice surface, taking care of
ice flooding, light snow clearing, and communicating with a City or School contact person. The
committee also has some financial responsibilities, managing a small grant provided by the City
Report No. CSD-06-078
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of Kitchener, often used for purchasing or repairing supplies and equipment such as hockey
nets, signage, and shovels as they are needed.
Until 5 years ago, these winter rinks were managed on a decentralised basis. Each District
Facilitator coordinated the committees for the outdoor rinks in their neighbourhoods. Through
the restructuring process that resulted from the Galloway Report, outdoor winter rinks were
centralised in 2001. Now, one staff member in Community Programs and Services coordinates,
recruits and supports volunteers for all sites. The centralisation of this program has made it
more efficient in its operation and has proven to be very effective in the areas of volunteer
recruitment, training, support and recognition. All of these improvements have contributed to
the growth and success of the program.
The Community Programs and Services staff works in close partnership with Operations staff
who continues to provide support to this program by overseeing the operating budget.
Operations staff also provides and maintains the required water and electrical supply, rink
boards, benches, hoses, scrapers, shovels, and shacks that house the equipment. Many rink
committees are very resourceful in clearing snow after a significant snowfall; however, if
needed, Operations staff does provide some assistance with snow removal following significant
snowfalls after attending to all other snow removal responsibilities such as parking lots and
sidewalks. Operations will also assist, within its means, in any improvements or installation of
lighting that is agreed upon by all parties.
REPORT:
The outdoor winter rinks program is an important Canadian - orientated activity that brings
neighbours and communities together and should continue based on its current format.
Strengths of the winter rink program include: Neighbourhood-based service provision; a strong
volunteer contribution in neighbourhoods; historical sustainability and low cost service delivery
that encourages participation. These strengths are detailed below.
1) Neighbourhood-orientated servicing which is a strategic goal and outcome of the City of
Kitchener and the Leisure Facilities Master Plan.
From 2002 to 2005, an average of 36 outdoor winter rinks were operational throughout the City
of Kitchener. Due to inclement weather, only 18 rinks were operational last winter.
The volunteers are a very dedicated group of people. They wake up at undesirable hours of
the night to flood and maintain the ice. Neighbourhoods are brought closer together because of
the existence of the outdoor winter rinks. One example of this cohesion involved a volunteer
who flooded his rink location each day at 4am when he arrived home from work. A neighbour
who he had never met stopped off regularly at 5 am as he headed to work and brought him a
Tim Horton's coffee to say thank you.
2) The contribution of volunteers to bring services to where people live.
More than 360 volunteers participate each season in the provision of the outdoor winter rinks
program.
The contribution of these volunteers is significant. Approximately 400 volunteer hours are
contributed per rink location; thus, the total number of hours contributed across 36 rink locations
is approximately 14, 400 hours.
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If equated to staff hours, it would take 8 full-time staff working 35 hours per week for the full year
to contribute this many hours. At minimum wage, the financial value of this contribution is
$111,600; however, at a more current market rate of $18 per hours plus a 49% benefit rate, the
financial value of this volunteer contribution would be $386,208.
Even with the changing weather patterns that have been experienced in recent years,
volunteers are still determined to make the ice rinks operational. The rinks do melt sometimes
in February if we get a warm spell (i.e. year 2004) however, the volunteers start from scratch
once the weather is cold enough again.
3) The historical sustainability of many of the outdoor ice surfaces over a long period of
years.
The City of Kitchener outdoor winter rinks program has been actively organized for more than
20 years.
On average, from Monday to Friday, approximately 60-80 Kitchener residents skate per rink
location. On the weekends the numbers jump to approximately 150-200 people per rink
location. Thus, across all 36 rink locations, approximately 21,600 residents per week utilise
these rinks. Since most rinks operate 12 weeks, the approximate number of times the rinks are
used by people is 259,200 times. (*NB: This does not include statistics from the Civic Square
Rink or Victoria Park).
4) The low cost of service delivery.
The outdoor winter rinks program provides free public skating, which allows all residents to
participate in this Canadian-orientated activity.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The outdoor winter rinks have a current operating budget of $111,990.
The majority of the program budget covers wages of City staff. They install, maintain, and
dismantle the rink boards at the end of the season. If required, staff also provides maintenance
to the water supply and shacks. When resources are available, staff also provides assistance
with snow removal after significant snowfalls, after attending to all other snow removal
responsibilities. Operations staff also makes regular inspections for damage or repair of the
rinks, shacks and equipment. These inspections are important for risk management and
volunteer support.
This budget also covers the cost of purchasing the rink boards and grant money paid to the
volunteer rink committees. In addition, this budget covers upgrades or repairs to lighting and
ensures a basic amount of equipment such as a hose, shovels and scrapers is available at each
rink location. The replacement of old wooden sheds with durable concrete ones is ongoing and
very costly, allowing for one upgrade per season.
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CONCLUSION:
Outdoor skating is both a Canadian and Kitchener tradition. The City of Kitchener is fortunate to
have several hundred committed volunteers who make a significant and important contribution
to public recreation by providing free outdoor skating that is enjoyed by a large number of
Kitchener residents. The outdoor winter rink program creates "safe and thriving
neighbourhoods" which is an important part of our community vision. The outdoor winter rinks
program should continue based on its current format.
Mark Hildebrand
Interim Director Community Programs and Services
KB