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Skaters hit the ice with Olympian at new Cookstown rink

New refrigerated outdoor ice rink is unveiled outside the Cookstown Public Library, and another one is in the works

Every year, the Cookstown volunteer firefighters would roll up their sleeves, bring out the hoses and create an outdoor skating rink at the Cookstown Public Library and Community Centre.

Some years, their efforts were successful, and local families could enjoy the pleasures of outdoor skating.

Other years, see-saw temperatures turned the rink into a puddle.

No longer.

On Saturday, the Town of Innisfil and the Innisfil ideaLAB and Library joined forces to unveil a new Cookstown Ice Rink – a refrigerated outdoor rink that will provide a reliable ice surface, regardless of winter weather conditions.

“The Cookstown Ice Rink is an amazing example of the great things that happen when a community comes together,” said Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollin, promising “the ice rink is a first of many upgrades to be celebrated.”

The project was part of the town’s 10-year capital plan.

Originally, the proposal called for the construction of a new baseball diamond on the lands adjacent to the Cookstown Public Library, at a cost of $610,000 – but after consulting with residents in 2017 through a survey, the plan was modified to include their top three choices: an ice rink, exercise trail and outdoor stage.

“The total construction costs are $502,000,” noted Meredith Goodwin, capital project manager with the Town of Innisfil. “That includes the ice rink, but also includes the limestone trail that goes around the site, with five outdoor exercise stations, and the concrete stage that could be used in the summer and the winter.”

The project was “not tax-base funded,” according to Goodwin. Ten per cent of the cost was covered through monies provided by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) from its operations at Georgian Downs, and 90 per cent through development charges levied on new development. In 2017-2018, the OLG donated more than $5.5 million to the Town of Innisfil.

Saturday’s celebration, which was funded by the OLG, included free food as firefighters manned the barbecue, in addition to children’s activities, hot chocolate from Tim Hortons, a visit from 2018 Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater Gabrielle Daleman – and appropriately, Frozen’s Anna and Olaf.

Goodwin noted the 10-year capital plan includes additional upgrades in Cookstown in 2021, subject to council approval – and another outdoor ice rink, this one outside the Lakeshore Library in Alcona, that is awaiting budget approval in 2019.


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Miriam King

About the Author: Miriam King

Miriam King is a journalist and photographer with Bradford Today, covering news and events in Bradford West Gwillimbury and Innisfil.
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