3 midtown rinks stay open
[attach]7567[/attach]Outdoor rinks at Ramsden Park and Otter Creek Centre in midtown were among 11 given an extension by a $250,000 corporate investment after a public outcry to the city’s on-schedule closing on Feb. 23 of all but 17 of the 52 outdoor rinks it administers.
The rink at Cedarvale Park, in the Bathurst and Eglinton area, was among the 17 originally going to remain open until March 16. The financial input from Canadian Tire and Scotiabank saw that those at Ramsden Park in Rosedale and Otter Creek Centre, in the Yonge and Lawrence area, and nine others throughout the city would also stay open through March Break week.
Affected residents were upset by what they saw as early rink closings, given the extended cold weather being experienced in Toronto that is presenting favourable conditions well past the scheduled closing date. The 28 skating facilities remaining open until March 16 is dependent upon weather.
Ward 25 councillor Jaye Robinson has expressed interest in seeing the city ask for corporate contributions to a special reserve fund that would allow for the outdoor skating season to be extended in years where weather conditions permit.
