The Feversham Kinsmen are working on building an outdoor skating rink at Feversham Park, on the concrete pad leftover from a former arena.
Devin Seeley, speaking on behalf of the Kinsmen, said the group wants to put in an ice surface for people who have lost recreation opportunities because of COVID-19 restrictions.
“I guess it originated from the start of COVID, because they used to have public skating at the arena,” Seeley said. “But when COVID hit, they got rid of it, and then for this winter season they weren't sure if they were going to have ice time available for public skating as well.”
“We just thought this might be a good step for the people that regularly go on Sunday afternoon [to have] somewhere else to go.”
The group has secured a water source for flooding the ice from the neighbouring Osprey Snowhawks Snowmobile Club, and are currently looking into getting a Zamboni for maintaining it.
Seeley said he hopes the existing light sources will allow the rink to operate into the evening, and that they would be interested in managing the ice surface in years to come.
“I would definitely love to see it up and running at night … there are a couple more ice rinks within the municipality that do operate after dark,” he said.
Seeley said that the Kinsmen only require permission from the municipality to get started.
“Everything is down there that we need, it’s just getting permission to use it,” he said.
"I'm really hoping to see people skating on it this winter."
The Kinsmen presented their request to Grey Highlands council on Nov. 16, asking for permission to move ahead with the plan and to have access to the light switch on site.
“I think it’s a great idea, and the Kinsmen have always been stalwarts of community service, so it’s great to see them take [a rink] on as well,” said deputy mayor Aakaash Desai.
Desai put forth a notice of motion to direct staff to work with the Feversham Kinsmen on building the outdoor rink, which will need to be ratified at a later council meeting.
Discussions will need to take place regarding insurance coverage, and a memorandum of understanding between the Kinsmen and the municipality.
“I assume that Kinsmen probably already has insurance, but we could have those discussions in regards to process,” said director of economic and community development Michele Harris.
“We're on it, and we will absolutely have conversations should it be council's desire to move forward with this,” she said.
