Update:
February 27, 2025 - Thanks to these unseasonably warm temps, our pond rinks at Vistas Pond, Briegel Pond, and Winter Lake are officially closed until further notice—because skating on water just isn’t the same.
The Centennial Outdoor Rink is officially CLOSED due to unsafe ice conditions. To reopen, we’ll need several days of solid cold temps—so for now, we’re in a wait-and-see mode.
As soon as the colder weather permits, Parks staff and the Olds Fire Department actively work on establishing the outdoor skating areas. Centennial Park Outdoor Rink is maintained for skating as long as the weather allows. The ponds are monitored throughout the season to ensure safety.
Requirements for Outdoor Rinks:
- Creating good ice is a gradual process—it takes time and multiple layers (and staff!) to build a strong, durable surface!
- At least 3 weeks of consistently low temperatures are required to ensure the concrete pad and subsurface are fully frozen.
- About 20,000 gallons of water per rink.
- Building and maintaining the ice involves time and resorces from Parks, the Olds Fire Department, and volunteers.
- For the naturalized ice surfaces (ponds) the ice must be thick enough to meet Canadian Red Cross standards for groups to skate on.
OUTDOOR RINK
Centennial Park - CLOSED
When open, this rink is available for public use. It cannot be booked. Please only use up to half of the rink at a time to allow for everyone to use it.
PONDS
If you see standing water on the ice, it is not safe to skate on. Please watch for signs.
Briegel Pond - CLOSED
Briegel Pond can be accessed via pathways at the north end of Briegel Road, Erhart Close, or a little bit of a walk off 55 Street.
Winter Lake - CLOSED
Winter Lake is accessible from Winter Drive or Park Lane.
Vistas Pond - CLOSED
Vistas Pond is at the far west end of Vista Drive, near Vireo Ave.
Volunteer for the Snow Patrol
We ask that users of the ice surfaces become “Snow Patrol” volunteers and clear the snow with snow shovels or small push type snowblowers, refrain from using motorized vehicles on the ice. Please note that these ice rinks will not have boards - snow edges only.
Safety Information for Pond Ice
