REMINDER: Stormwater ponds are not for play
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City urges residents not to walk, play or skate on frozen ponds
With winter in full swing, snow and icy weather causes many ponds in Vaughan to freeze over. Though they may look safe to skate or play on, the ice on stormwater ponds is often thin, making them unstable and unsafe.
The City of Vaughan is reminding residents to take extreme caution around stormwater ponds and stay away from the ice that forms over them. Stormwater ponds are not designed or intended for recreational use such as skating or sliding – no activities on the ice are safe. Water flow and levels can change quickly and without warning, which leads to an unstable surface.
Looking for a safe place to skate in Vaughan? Register online at vaughan.perfectmind.com for a skating session at one of the City’s five outdoor rinks: Chancellor Community Centre, Dufferin Clark Community Centre, Father E. Bulfon Community Centre, Garnet A. Williams Community Centre and Vellore Village Community Centre.
They reopened on Monday, Feb. 1 with new, enhanced safety measures in place. The rinks are open every day from 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. until March, weather permitting. Skate sessions are 45 minutes in duration with a 30-minute break between sessions, and the number of skaters on the ice at one time is limited to 25. A mandatory mask zone is in effect for all participants and observers.
For complete information on safety guidelines and important measures while on and off the ice, visit vaughan.ca/skate.
The toboggan hill at North Maple Regional Park, the off-leash dog park at 299 Racco Parkway and trails around Vaughan are other options for those looking to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Citizens are reminded to do their part when visiting these amenities. To keep the community safe and help curb the spread of COVID-19, users are reminded to follow all York Region public health guidelines – including practising physical distancing, washing hands thoroughly and often, and wearing a face mask or covering, among others.
To receive the City’s latest updates as they happen, sign up for the City Update eNewsletter at vaughan.ca/CityUpdate and follow the City’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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