Winter is here and residents are looking for ways to keep entertained during these difficult times. One source of entertainment that will soon be available is the Outdoor Rink at the Martensville Sports Centre.
Typically, the rink is flooded closer to December to ensure the weather will be cold enough to keep the ice surface in proper condition for users. “We are keeping an eye on the weather, and if it looks like it is going to hold up and be cold consistently, we will likely start flooding the outdoor rink once we are caught up on snow removal – assuming we don’t get another dump of snow,” City of Martensville Director of Recreation & Community Services, Ted Schaeffer, stated.
The City of Martensville approved the construction of a warming shack at the Outdoor Rink this year and construction is currently underway. Initially, the tentative date for completion was November 30; however, due to weather, Schaeffer noted that they will likely be a little behind now.
The warming shack will be built to accommodate 15-20 people, although that number will be cut down to 6 to 7 people due to COVID physical distancing restrictions.
Those utilizing the warming shack, once it is complete, will be required to wear a mask while inside, as it is considered a public indoor space.
The second part of the building will be utilized to store the City of Martensville’s back-up Zamboni, which is currently being stored at a secondary location, which creates a turnaround time if something happens to the primary Zamboni. “With the back-up Zamboni being stored in the new building, not only can we use it to flood the outdoor rink, but if something happens to our primary one, we can essentially carry on with minimal impact on service,” Schaeffer explained.
