« My Waterloo
Haul in the ice
With council’s approval of moving forward to ensure the skating rink Uptown will be open this winter, the public square is guaranteed to be a community gathering place year round. In watching the development of the public square since it’s unveiling in May, I think this is a big step in making it an accessible and central location in the community.
Although programs were being developed in the case that the rink hadn’t been approved, I had been sceptical that it would be sufficient in drawing in the community during the winter months. The skating rink however is something that I feel will guarantee the necessary traffic in the square.
Moving forward, as programming for the rink develops, I hope that city staff keeps in mind the student population in Waterloo. Skating is an activity that anyone can participate in, and would have great appeal to the student population in giving them the opportunity to get outdoors in the winter months.
Ensuring there is open ice at appropriate hours for youth and students in particular will help integrate them into the broader community. Students are encompassed by the school they attend, but skating can give them reason to leave that bubble and explore Uptown.
Residence communities in particular who look for venues to host socials beyond campus walls would reap the benefits of weekend and late afternoon skate times and most importantly introduce first year students to the city.
Now that the ice rink is becoming a reality, I hope that the programming incorporated with it will be just as successful.