Plans are in the works for an improved outdoor skating rink in Smithers.<\/p>\n
At its last regular meeting, Smithers town council approved in principle the Smithers Volunteer Firefighters Association’s Outdoor Rink Project.<\/p>\n
The Town of Smithers Parks and Recreation Master Plan, adopted in 2024, identifies the outdoor rink at Central Park as an aging facility requiring replacement.<\/p>\n
The Plan recommends re-imagining Central Park with the renewal of the outdoor rink as an important part of this long-term vision. The current rink has served the community for decades, but its surface and infrastructure are now nearing the end of their lifespan.<\/p>\n
The Smithers Volunteer Firefighters Association has historically flooded and maintained the existing rink during the winter.<\/p>\n
Now, the firefighters have proposed to redevelop and manage the outdoor rink for the community. They have provided town staff with a high-level overview of the project, organized into phases, along with detailed budget estimates, vendor quotes, and fundraising targets.<\/p>\n
They have also worked closely with the Town’s Engineering, Community Services, and Operations departments to confirm technical feasibility and operational requirements.<\/p>\n
The Outdoor Rink Project has been structured in three phases, allowing the Smithers Volunteer Firefighters Association to prioritize the core replacement work while keeping the existing facility functional and adding enhancements over time.<\/p>\n
Operational costs are expected to remain consistent with current levels, as the firefighters have traditionally maintained and flooded the rink and intend to continue in this role.<\/p>\n
Phase 1 includes the rink replacement. The first phase represents the essential renewal of the outdoor rink and is designed to bring the facility up to modern standards.<\/p>\n
The plan will be to demolish and prepare the surface rink area for installation of a new concrete slab, with concrete forms and piping, construction of a utility building, new hockey boards as well as supplementary items such as protective netting, rink lighting, player benches, and goal nets.<\/p>\n
Phase 2 and 3 include sports courts, a chilling unit and washrooms.<\/p>\n
Councillor Genevieve Paterson expressed concerns about maintaining public washrooms due to disrespect for public spaces.<\/p>\n
Councillor Frank Wray praised the project’s accessibility and potential for community development. Councillor Calvin Elliott seconded this support.<\/p>\n
While some concerns were raised about the project’s impact on existing park users and noise from sporting activities, council approved the project in principle, with each phase requiring further council approval.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Smithers Volunteer Firefighters Association has proposed and will lead the project<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":130,"featured_media":159288,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-159286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n