Outdoor Ice Surfaces

Update:

December 30, 2024 - The ponds are open for the season and safe to skate on! Please continue to watch for signs.

The outdoor rink at Centennial Park is now open! We appreciate your continued understanding as we perform regular maintenance to keep the ice in great shape. Safety is our top priority, and we aim to have stable, high-quality ice for you to enjoy!


 

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 - OPEN

This rink is available for public use. It cannot be booked.

PONDS

If you see standing water on the ice, it is not safe to skate on.  Please watch for signs. 

Briegel Pond - OPEN

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 - OPEN
Winter Lake is accessible from Winter Drive or Park Lane.

Vistas Pond - OPEN
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