outdoor6

The early arrival of winter in Swift Current has many people eager to lace up the skates and hit the outdoor rinks, but it will still be at least a couple more weeks before they can open.

"It takes a little bit of time to just remove any snow and debris around the interior sides of the boards," said City Recreation and Parks Director Dean Robson. "Based on weather, it's looking half-favourable. We do appreciate sustained cold temperatures."

Full interview with Dean Robson

Robson says they would like to see a good week-long stretch of temperatures around the minus 12 to minus 15-degree range, and they want to build a four-inch base on the ice surface before they can open everything up.

"Once we get that initial base, then we just continue to water away until we get heavy-enough surface prepared, and then we can open everything up and we're good to go," he added. "Our intent always is to open around December 17th or 18th into that last week prior to Christmas when the kids are just getting out of school. With favourable conditions, it should put us into the second week of December, ideally."

The City operates five outdoor rinks at ACT Community Park, Riverdene Park, the southside near St. Joe's School, Westside Park on the corner of 3rd Ave NW and Herbert Street, and Highland Park.