HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-05-156 - Victoria Park Commons Ice Rink
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Community Services Committee
December 5, 2005
Ken Currier, Director of Operations
Ken Currier
Ward 6
November 24, 2005
CSD-05-156
VICTORIA PARK COMMONS ICE RINK
RECOMMENDATION:
For Information purposes only.
BACKGROUND:
At Council Meeting of November 7, 2005, Council was approached by a delegation, Mr. L.
Rudrum requesting that the City of Kitchener consider the merits of re-Iocating the ice rinks in
Victoria Park from the Commons area to a location at the rear of the park between the
maintenance building and the railway tracks.
The Victoria Park Commons area was first used as a skating rink around 1985 when the lake
was being dredged. The location worked well and was relatively easy to maintain and with the
uncertainty of the weather over the years the area was used as a backup to the lake ice. The
popularity and success of the Commons area location has seen the ice surface expanded to two
rinks for family skating and hockey. Since the recent closure of the lake ice for ice quality
concerns the rink size has further expanded.
The lake ice surface will continue to be closed until further work is completed, which is
scheduled to begin in 2006 with the Environmental Assessment process involving Victoria Park
Lake and Schneider Creek. The anticipated recommendations of the review will likely take
several years from that point to implement.
REPORT:
Community Services staff have reviewed the suggestion by Mr. Rudrum to re-Iocate the ice
surfaces and present the following.
1. Moving the rink to the overflow parking area behind the maintenance building would
require capital expenditures for lighting, water and site preparation.
Report No: CSD-05-156
2. The size of the proposed location which is approximately one-third the size of the
surface in the Commons area would reduce the overall functionality of the established
rink surfaces. ( see attached map)
3. The proposed location is quite remote to most associated activities within the park. The
present location has become a focal point for community skating and it's prominent
location attracts many family outings and pickup hockey games.
4. Traffic concerns could become a problem with residents on Schneider Ave, David and
Dill Streets as they are quite narrow.
Staff will though consider alternatives to restrict parking of vehicles adjacent to the ice surfaces
thereby reducing the need to restore the turf in the spring. Annual expenses required to restore
the turf area from ice making and overflow parking are approximately $500 per year.
For these reasons it is staff's recommendation to leave the ice surfaces in the Commons area.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Staff have prepared a preliminary cost estimate to establish a 45'x1 00' ice surface in the rear of
Victoria Park between the maintenance building and the railway tracks, at $65,000. The costs
would include:
1. Electrical service installation, lights and poles, panel switching and connections $23,000
2. Water servicing, includes a 350' line, trenching and connections $27,000
3. Site grading and restoration $7,000
4. Contingency $8,000
COMMUNICATIONS:
Mr. Rudrum will be receiving a response from the Community Services Department thanking
him for his suggestion.
CONCLUSION:
We appreciate the suggestion put forth by Mr. Rudrum, but staff at this time are recommending
leaving the Victoria Park ice surfaces in the Commons area for the above noted reasons.
Ken Currier, Director of Operations
Community Services
AP