Community rallies to try and save west end skating rink

A west end community is rallying to try and save a beloved ice rink whose days appear to be numbered.

A petition has been started to try and save the outdoor arena at Wallace Emerson Park at Dupont and Dufferin streets, which is scheduled for redevelopment later this year.

The plans call for 2,600 condo units, 150 affordable housing units along with 300,000 square feet of retail space to be built next to the present rink. While there are also plans for a community centre and several other sports amenities where the present rink current sits, a hockey rink is not among them. Instead, there will be a skating trail and a leisure skating pad.

Jared Westreich, who started a petition to keep the hockey rink, says while there were a lot of consultations held during the summer, a lot of people who actually use the rink weren’t aware.

“This rink is extremely popular. There’s consistently 30, 40, sometimes 50 people playing hockey well into the night,” he said.

Patrick Merideth-Karam, who is also hoping to save the neighbourhood rink, can’t understand why the city would get rid of one of the more popular amenities in the area.

“COVID has brought a lot more people outside, brought people to the rink and people are learning to really enjoy the community amenities,” he said. “A lot of people that have recently started enjoying the rink maybe weren’t a part of the consultation process.”

Area councillor Ana Bailao says there were a lot of requests from the community when it came to recreational facilities, everything from BMX to basketball courts, soccer fields and a skating park.

“From that consultation with regards to the ice space, the community really emphasized the need and desire to have a lot of recreational skating,” said Bailao, who adds they have asked staff to investigate if there is a possibility to make the ice pad bigger.

The developer tells CityNews they would be willing to work with the city on an expanded ice rink.

“Of course we want to make sure whatever we’re bringing to the community will be absorbed well and enjoyed,” said Matin Atapour with Elad Canada. “We would be happy to contribute funds and work with the city to expand on the rink if that’s something they’re willing to support.”

The first phase of construction is scheduled for the Winter 2022 with the goal to have the redevelopment completed by Fall 2024