Kelowna’s popular outdoor ice rink, Stuart Park, opens this winter.
But how it works is up to its users and how well they follow COVID-19 protocols.
Kelowna City Council approved changes to the rink’s operating model on Monday, October 26th, as Interior Health does not recommend status quo operations due to the nature of the location.
When the rink opens on December 1st, it will operate similarly to normal. However, if the guidelines are not followed, access can be restricted or closed entirely.
The city plans to open the rink occasionally during normal opening hours from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. However, there will be no skate rentals, fire pits, or grocery vendors available. Signage is displayed to remind skaters of COVID-19 guidelines and safety protocols. During rush hour, staff are on site to monitor the size and physical distance.
“The assumption here is that the lack of services would limit the number of people,” Doug Nicholas, the city’s sports and events manager, told the city council.
If the crowd and physical distancing guidelines are not followed and maintaining public safety proves too difficult, the rink would operate on a restricted use model.
This would result in the website, enclosed with temporary fences and an online registration system, managing subscriber numbers during rush hour. Skate sessions would last an hour, with a maximum of 50 participants at any given time. The city’s employees would be on site again to manage registration lists, check entry and exit points and monitor operations. Drop-in usage would still be available outside of rush hour. Limited services like the fire pit could be offered under that model, Nicholas said.
If at this point there are still safety issues, the rink will be completely closed and the ice will be removed.
“I’m surprised we haven’t made skating a must-have in Canada,” joked Coun. Charlie Hodge.
READ MORE: Snow Removal On Track Despite Early Snowfall: City of Kelowna
READ MORE: The Kelowna Outreach Group hopes winter shelter is coming soon
Do you have anything to add to this story or anything else we should cover? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
@ Michaelrdrguez
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