City doesn’t want you skating on lagoon

If you think it’s safe to skate on the Waterfront Park lagoon, think again.

The City of Kelowna on Wednesday afternoon warned local residents to be careful skating on frozen ponds and waterways.

“Pond ice may look thick enough and safe to skate on but, especially late in the season, thickness can change quickly and dramatically, creating potential for injury,” the city said in a news release.

Skating on the lagoon at Waterfront Park has been particularly popular in recent days and is also particularly dangerous. The lagoon has a current flowing through it, which makes ice thickness especially unpredictable. It also has a lining between the water and the concrete below that could easily be torn by a skate and fixing that tear would be a considerable undertaking. For these reasons, the City discourages residents from skating on the lagoon.”