There is concern from city officials that unofficial rinks popping up on municipal properties, may be dangerous.
In Kitchener any kind of recreational activity on a storm water pond is prohibited.
In an email to CTV News, Shayne Turner, the manager of By-law Enforcement for the city of Kitchener says:
Our enforcement, like many enforcement processes, are on a complaint basis. At this point, we don't get many complaints. As such, there is limited enforcement most winters.
Having said this, it is important to understand the risks with SWM ponds, compared to natural ponds. SWM ponds are designed to manage water runoff, from rains, thaws, etc. Thus they are subject to fluctuating water levels, which can mean less water under the ice, creating an unstable ice surface.
"It’s something that Canadians have been doing for decades,” said Phong Nguyen.
In Waterloo officials have been dealing with a complaint that skaters have been illegally using the Eastbridge storm water pond, prompting officials to increase enforcement.
Management in Waterloo say it’s about safety,
“Even today as cold as it is out, there`s open water at the inlet, at that storm water pond and that creates unsafe conditions. Storm water ponds, just by their functions, they take the runoff from the roads, things like road salt as an example, that all gets flushed into the storm water ponds and it just creates ice that can be variable," said Allan Seabrooke, Commissioner of Community Services for the city of Waterloo.
Guelph city officials told residents they would have to stop using a rink made by residents on city property; however, they then amended their decision stating residents could keep it until the spring thaw.
"I don't think it’s very fair, it takes away from the kids enjoyment because one person feels it’s a concern to them,” says Nguyen.
