City reluctant to regulate pop-up rinks in parks

It seems unlikely the City of Saskatoon will sanction the establishment of skating rinks in city parks without the participation of a community association.

A City of Saskatoon report shows little support for a new process to allow residents to build rinks in parks using a process similar to that used to establish community gardens.

The report notes 52 outdoor community rinks are already operated by community associations in collaboration with the city, including 14 located entirely in city parks.

The city became aware of four instances in the last several years in which residents established rinks in parks without permission, the report explains, including one last year in the River Heights neighbourhood.

“This creates a number of issues for us when they just simply appear,” the city’s community development manager, Kevin Kitchen, said at Monday’s meeting of city council’s planning, development and community services committee.

When such rinks are discovered, city staff dismantle them.

In response to the River Heights situation in his ward, Coun. Randy Donauer had asked staff to investigate the possibility of a permit process for residents who want to build a rink in a park.

Donauer had wondered about accommodating residents, given the city’s push to embrace winter recreation.

Kitchen said that staff would investigate the possibility of a process for residents to consult with the city if there is determined to be a need for an outdoor rink.

According to a city map, Saskatoon’s largest neighbourhood, Stonebridge, which has more than 11,000 residents, lacks an official outdoor rink.

Donauer said he wanted to know whether 52 rinks is an adequate number.

The city has only granted permission to community associations to establish and operate rinks, the report says.

Rinks are either located on city land, school board land or land owned partly by the city and one of the school boards.