A two-person crew in a water truck doing at least two laps daily for two weeks is what it took to get the town’s new ice skating trail ready for recreational skaters.
The new skating path, dubbed the Legion Loop, was officially opened Friday morning at a ribbon cutting at the west-end Legion Park by Fort Frances Mayor Andrew Hallikas.
“On behalf of the town of Fort Frances and its council, I want to thank all those involved in the creation of this wonderful recreational asset,” Hallikas said. “This skating trail did not just appear overnight. It’s the brains child and the loving creation of our wonderful parks crew, led by Cody Vangel.”
Home to well-used splash pad in the warmer seasons, the park has been somewhat abandoned in the winter, said Hallikas, who is enthusiastic for families to be able to enjoy a fresh skating spot. “It warms my heart on this cold day to see so many of our members of our community that have come out to help celebrate this exciting event.”
Hallikas said the loop has received very positive feedback, with an online video of showcasing its sleek ice and meandering path getting more than 27,000 views. He said he hopes the new skating path will be a recurring theme of future winters in Fort Frances. “It’s going to be enjoyed by young and old for years to come, and I hope it is the beginning of a new skating tradition in Fort Frances.”
Vangel, the Fort’s transportation superintendent, said the cost to make and maintaining the new loop are minimal, with the water used in the initial process and for future layers far below the consumption of the splash pad, which runs daily in the summer.
Families attending the opening put skates on and were excited to be amongst the first on the ice at Legion Loop. Karen and Richard Rob came to show support and watch as their son Travis and granddaughter Leah enjoyed the loop for the first time.
Karen said that she and her husband won’t be skating but are happy to be seeing a new place in the community for their grandchildren and families to enjoy.
The loop is approximately 350 metres long (1,148 feet) by 2.5 metres (8 feet) wide and wends its way through the rear area of the park, south of the splash pad. People looking to test out the new path can use picnic benches in the park to put on their skates before hitting the ice.
