Outdoor rinks almost ready – please wait until they are open for use, says Paris Firefighters Club

By Casandra Turnbull

Great news for outdoor enthusiasts, as long as the winter weather continues to trend in the right direction, Paris’ outdoor skating rinks could be open to the public soon. In an update provided by the Paris Firefighters Club this week, the Paris Independent found out that work is already under way at the Syl Apps and Optimist Park rinks. They firefighters have packed the snow and started flooding the surfaces. They are working in conjunction with County of Brant Parks and Recreation staff to monitor and measure the thickness of the ice to ensure it’s safe for use.

Matt Amy, a member of the Paris Firefighters Club, shares some of the secrets behind all the hard work. “We would typically want a larger snow base but with the cold temperature the guys are eager to give it a try,” he said, not ruling out there may have been some pressure from the firefighters’ spouses to get the rinks operational! It’s certainly appreciated as there’s been a lot of chatter online this past couple of weeks with residents eager to dive into winter and embrace all it has to offer!

If the weather continues to stay cold, the rinks could stay operational until March. The County’s website urges residents to pay attention to signs at the rink to see if it’s open or closed before skating. All unlit rinks are open from 8 am to dusk and lit rinks are open from 8 am to 10:30 pm And until they are ready, Amy encourages residents to practice patience and stay off the surfaces until they are posted as open. Premature use could be detrimental to the efforts of all volunteers

Here's a look at where you can find the rinks in the County of Brant:

Axton Park, Paris – 57 Schuyler St Paris Optimist Park – 3 Catherine St Syl Apps Community Centre, 51 William St Sunny Hill Park, St George – 87 Sunnyside Dr Mt. Pleasant Park, Mount Pleasant – 555 Burtch Rd.

To find out when a rink is open or closed, based on weather conditions, click here

The Paris Firefighters Club is working with the County of Brant Parks and Rec staff to pack the rinks and flood them. Please wait until the rinks are open before using them, as it could set back preparation efforts.