Stormwater pond safety
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The City reminds residents where to skate safely this winter
With the winter season underway, ponds are beginning to freeze. The City of Vaughan is reminding citizens that stormwater management ponds are not designed or intended for recreational use such as skating or sledding – no activities on the ice are safe.
The City maintains more than 150 stormwater ponds – human-made infrastructure built to gather rainfall and surface water runoff. The ponds temporarily hold this water before releasing it slowly back into the environment at a controlled rate. This process means water is constantly flowing in and out of the pond, and, therefore, water levels are always changing. Due to this process, the thickness of the ice is highly unpredictable, which makes it a serious safety hazard – that’s why citizens are urged to stay off the ice!
For a safe place to skate in Vaughan, visit 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, weather permitting. For more information on hours of operation, safety guidelines and important measures while on and off the ice, visit vaughan.ca/skate.
The City is also working on two natural rinks – at Maple Community Centre (10190 Keele St.) and North Thornhill Community Centre (300 Pleasant Ridge Ave.) – which are scheduled to open soon, weather permitting.
The toboggan hill at North Maple Regional Park, the off-leash dog park at 299 Racco Pkwy, and the many recreational trails and nature walks around Vaughan are other options for people looking to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors.
Stormwater has several environmental impacts. Excess runoff that does not soak into the ground or flow into stormwater ponds can pick up pollutants such as oil, pesticides, bacteria and trash flowing back into rivers and lakes. The City is committed to protecting the environment and fostering a sustainable future, all while delivering Service Excellence, as outlined in the Council-approved 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan.
Citizens can help minimize the impacts of stormwater pollution by taking these easy actions today:
- Putting trash where it belongs and reporting litter.
- Not pouring or dumping toxic chemicals down their drains or street catch basins.
- Disposing of toxic products at local household hazardous waste centres.
To learn more about how the City manages stormwater, visit vaughan.ca/stormwater. For updates and news as they happen, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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