Kamloops council approves new location for Riverside Park skating rink

Kamloops City Council voted in favour of adjusting the location of the skating rink that will be constructed in Riverside Park.

The $5.4 million rink, which was originally approved in April 2023, was moved slightly to the west to accommodate the newly constructed water park.

Original plans called for a 1,750 square metre ice surface that would surround the water park.

“The proposed new location presents numerous advantages over the original location including size, protection of greenspace, and less public disruption during construction, all while remaining cost neutral,” the city says in a release.

Council was told that construction of the skating facility in the original location would have required a temporary closure of the water park for an entire summer season.

The park just opened on May long weekend in 2023.

Additionally, the new location allows for a building area of around 1,850 square metres.

A staff report said that the new location is primarily on existing hard surface and asphalt space, resulting in less than 30% of the footprint impact on existing green space in Riverside Park.

The skating rink will be funded through the province’s Growing Communities Fund.

Council voted 6-2 in favour of directing staff to continue with the design and construction of the skating facility. Coun. Bepple excused herself due to her involvement with the Kamloops Outdoor Skating Association and coun. Sarai and mayor Hamer-Jackson were opposed.

Sarai said he was concerned about security and Hamer-Jackson said he’d prefer to see something smaller in size.

Design work and site approvals will continue this summer and construction is anticipated to begin in summer 2025, with a completion date of winter 2025.