UPDATE: Council gives the go-ahead for Stuart Park skating

(UPDATE: Oct. 26 @ 4:00 pm):

Kelowna City Council has voted to open the Stuart Park Skating rink starting at 6 am Dec.1 despite concerns over the pandemic. Skating will be open and free of charge from 6 am to 11 pm daily, but there is a catch. The plan is to limit services around the rink to discourage big crowds. That means no skate rentals or sharpening, no food service and no fire pits.

The public will have to co-operate by keeping physical distancing or the city is prepared to take precautions to a new level.

Level 2 would mean a fence around the rink and skating by appointment. Skaters would have to go to an online app to book a time. Depending on how things go, the possibility of closure still looms. Council could take things to Level 3, which would be a full shutdown.

Councillor Brad Sieben supported the plan but questioned the lack of food and skate services. "I certainly think those services could be added," said Sieben.

(Original story: Oct. 25 @ 12:30 pm):

There's no skating around this one. With COVID-19 on the rise and winter setting in early, it's decision time on whether there will be skating on Kelowna's iconic Stuart Park Rink.

City staff has laid out three options on how the popular ice surface should be managed.

Level 1 would allow self-regulated public use with a 50 person limit on the rink. Level 2, would see the facility fenced-off and allow only skaters who have pre-booked a time.

Level 3 would mean closing it entirely.

Judging from the response when we asked people around the waterfront plaza today, the public seems to favour Level 1.

The staff recommendation a phased approach that would see the rink open at Level 1 and only move to Level 2 if needed, and on to Level 3 if the circumstances demand it.

A decision is expected later today.