One of the outdoor features at Ma-te-Way Park has avoided its final closure for the time being.
Renfrew’s Skating Oval, which has been closed for the past two winters due to weather and to allow for the construction of the myFM Centre, has been given one more winter to prove its worth.
Speaking to town council at their most recent meeting, the acting Director of Facilities, Maintenance, and Operations, Janet Collins, explained some of the other issues that brought its permanent closure to a vote.
The skating oval, which had last been set up along the running track behind the myFM Centre, had been the point of concern for some members of town staff, who had expressed a lack of confidence in being able to find the hours needed for the extensive set-up and maintenance the oval would need on top of their duties in managing the arena’s two ice pads.
Councilor Jason Legris was among the councilors vocal against closing the skating oval down for good, noting that it offers another opportunity to promote active outdoor living for residents.
Council would ultimately choose to give the oval another chance to open next winter, which Chief Administrative Officer Rob Tremblay says will give the town a better look at the viability and financial impact of keeping the oval around, starting with the problem of the aging ice resurfacer being kept specifically for tending to it.
The town had set aside $4,296 in the 2024 budget for costs associated with the skating oval, which acting treasurer Charlene Jackson says will be spent elsewhere should the council choose not to continue funding it in 2025.
(written by Kasey Egan)
