Thunder Bay prepares outdoor rinks for ice skating season

Thunder Bays ice skating enthusiasts wont have to wait much longer before they can hit the ice ascity parks workers begin to set up outdoor rinks for the winter.

Flooding at outdoor boarded rinks began this week, and Parks Manager Paul Fayrick says the city hopes to have them open by December 15.

Our crews are out on site now," he said. "They're starting the slow process of putting the ice down."

Fayrick says they usually aim to have the rinks open by the middle of December, but sometimesputwater in the rinks earlier or later, depending on the year.

Thunder Bay operates21 boarded rinks throughout the city, 12 of which are supervised. Community centres and groups operate another five boarded rinks.

There are also nine unboarded, pond-style rinks throughout the city, but Fayrick says these cant open until there is enough snow to build snowbanks along the perimeter.

The outdoor rink at Marina Park, which has a small ice re-surfacer and an ice plant, has been open since mid-November. Its open to the public from noon to 9 p.m. daily.