Skating Trail at Sir Sam Smith Park in South Etobicoke Coming Soon!
Content courtesy of Toronto Star
Pretty soon, Torontonians will be skating on an ice trail. Within the next month, a 360-metre trail will open at the foot of Kipling Ave. and Lake Shore Blvd. W.
It has been the beloved project of skating-mad councillor Mark Grimes, whose City Hall office is festooned with photographs of hockey players such as Bobby Orr, Don Cherry and the 1964 Stanley Cup-winning Maple Leafs. A father of four hockey-playing sons, Grimes has always yearned for a skating experience similar to Ottawa's Rideau Canal.
"I thought, let's do something unique," says Grimes of the trail, which is on the grounds of a former psychiatric hospital. It will be made with artificial ice, ensuring a long season.
The advent of artificial ice and indoor rinks means skating has become a year-round sport that has moved into countries once considered too hot. Grimes participated in an old-timers hockey tournament in Europe a few years ago that played games in France and Spain.
"We were surprised that Spain had teams," he admits.
But the true skating experience is outdoors, when the weather is nippy – the Canadian way.
Looking for info on outdoor skating rinks? Try this cool web site: www.cityrinks.ca
8 comments:
This looks fantastic. I have been saying for a few years that Long Branch is the best secret in Toronto. We have the lake, parks and fantastic homes. Long Branch home prices are rising so I think this is the neighborhood to buy and invest it. Long Branch Toronto is the best up and coming neighborhood in Toronto according to many real estate junkies.
w06 and the Long Branch, Mimico Neighbourhood of Toronto have been indeed up and coming for a number of years now.
OK -> directions ! or at least a google map link!
Hi there, it is at the foot of Kipling Ave. and Lake Shore Blvd. W. In a park, called Colonel Sam Smith Park (see section Parks on the right side of the blog)
When is the official opening day? Can't wait!
I don't know. I have an email out to the Coun. Grimes - will post when I find out.
Hi... I went to the Open House back in Sept, and I believe they (TRCA?) said it will be open for In-line Skating this Spring/Summer... ICE skating NEXT winter... Rob
Another poorly-conceived waste of taxpayers' money.
We have all kinds of skating opportunities in the New Toronto area - and our existing outdoor rink could have used the money spent on this for much-needed repairs and maintenance.
In addition - more of what the community decided long ago was to be a passive natural park (like High Park) is being paved over and lost.
Why?
Because a buffoon of a councilor wants to give a buddy of his a concession for selling food etc.?
Mark Grimes, known as the "condo councilor" because he caters to business and money instead of the people who he is supposed to represent (guess there is no extra money in that), decided he wanted to do something different?
How about listening to residents who have worked a lot longer and harder than Grimey has in trying to make our community better - and not a circus like The Beaches?
Now that would be different!
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