Hundreds of people in Penticton collectively worked thousands of hours to make the city’s new outdoor rink a reality.
On Friday (Feb. 11), the efforts of the community will be on display when the new downtown facility officially opens to the public.
It’s been several months in the making for Activate Penticton president Drew Barnes, who felt relieved on Thursday morning (Feb. 10) when asked about the completion of the project.
“It’s been a long time coming and lots of work has gone into this,” he told the Western News. “I just wish we could have got it open sooner for everyone to enjoy for a longer season but I guess we’ll enjoy the next 30 days, weather permitting.”
Construction of the new rink, located northwest of Penticton City Hall on 107 Martin Street, was hit with supply-chain issues amid extreme weather and COVID-19 over the last few months.
When the project launched in the summer of 2021, the downtown was facility slated to open in December. Barnes has been regularly tasked, however, in dealing with a number of challenges that pushed back the start date of the rink.
The outdoor facility, which had an estimated construction cost of $438,375 will officially be open for public skating starting at 8 a.m. Friday morning (Feb. 11). The community is invited to help commemorate the opening at a ceremony at 1 p.m. Friday.
“This new outdoor public skating rink will create a vibrant, healthy winter amenity in our downtown core,” said Vassilaki. “City council and staff thank Activate Penticton for their stewardship in seeing this project through to completion.”
Activate Penticton took leadership on the rink’s construction after its approval in June 2021. The ice rink is not a city project but one that has been funded by the community through donations.
The feeling of finally finishing the project still hasn’t hit Barnes, he said.
“I think (the feeling) will set in when I actually see people skating on the ice. I don’t think it’s been digested yet that it’s opening.”
READ MORE: Extreme weather and COVID-19 push opening of Penticton’s outdoor rink again
Ice time allocation will be divided between public skating and hockey.
“Our rules right now are that there will be no hockey permitted unless it’s during the hockey hours,” Barnes explained.
“We’re going to post those hours on a weekly basis.”
The rink will be home to the 2023 B.C. Hockey League (BCHL) 60th-anniversary all-star game next January.
“Penticton’s downtown now has an exciting new winter attraction,” Barnes added.
The hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the potential for evening hours to be extended once lights are installed.
READ MORE: Penticton outdoor ice rink looking ready for skaters
READ MORE: BCHL pushes 60th Anniversary in Penticton to 2023
@lgllockhart
logan.lockhart@pentictonwesternnews.com
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