Neighbourhood Rinks

Graphic banner of a diverse group skating on a outdoor rink

Many communities have come together to build neighbourhood rinks in Burlington this year.

Thank you to all the neighbourhood rink volunteers who came together and made the outdoor skating rink possible, especially during COVID.

Applications will be available in the fall.

Please follow the Open/Closed sign posted at the rink. Foot prints, cracks and debris will ruin the ice.
Follow all posted COVID regulations signs.
Come back another time if the rink is too busy.

Neighbourhood Rinks Contact Information:

Neighbourhood rinks social media groups are not monitored or run by the City of Burlington.

Learn about the Neighbourhood Rink program

The City of Burlington will work with your group to support your neighbourhood rink by:

Providing, installing and levelling of 6” high rink boards (approximate size of the rink is 36’x80’).

If I apply for a rink, what is my role?

Applicants who apply will be responsible for:

Organizing a working group of a minimum of six community champions to help maintain the rink.
Providing water and filling and maintaining the rink.
Arrange to have shovels available so that snow can be cleared from the rink.

New this year

Residents will need to provide their own water source and agree to take responsibility of cost at their own expense.
Resident leaders will be provided with an Open/Close signage, indicating if the rink is open or closed based on weather and ice conditions.
Tarp is included this year as liner to help maintain ice.
The community to ensure 3-metre distancing from those not within their household and to keep the number of skaters to the approved Provincial guidelines.

Program criteria and eligibility

Applications:
- Due by Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 11:59 p.m.,
- Must have one main contact,
- Must include six residents who live in the surrounding area who are committed to maintaining the rink throughout the rink period (including main applicant).
Applicant eligibility:
- Main contact must be over the age of 18 years old,
- Working group of community champions must be from different addresses,
- Working group must agree to provide a water source to flood and to maintain the ice,
- Working group must provide snow shovels to clear rink,
- Working group must ensure that physical distancing is promoted,
- Working group must communicate if physical distancing signage requires fixing.
Rink location eligibility:
- Rink locations must be 36’x80’ with appropriate clearance of hazards around the rink.
- Residents must agree to supply water at their own expense.
- Rinks are not permitted on City of Burlington irrigated sports fields.
  - Recommended locations: baseball diamonds, open spaces with no sports fields.

Neighbourhood Rink rules

Rinks are unsupervised.
Helmets are recommended.
Neighbourhood Rink organizers and users must adhere to all Government Regulations related to COVID-19.
The community to ensure 3-metre distancing from those not within their household and to keep the number of skaters to the approved Provincial guidelines.
Residents are encouraged to bring their own chairs as benches and/or picnic tables are available but not sanitized.
Rinks are natural and therefore can be uneven compared to indoor artificial ice surfaces.
All neighbourhood rinks are open to all members of the community at no charge.
Use of neighbourhood rinks is "use at your own risk".
Vehicle lights and driving in the park are prohibited. Generators are prohibited.
Manage rink use and concerns within City bylaw guidelines.
Lighting beyond what is available in the park (portable lights) must be approved by The City of Burlington.
Rinks are open from dawn to dusk. Where city lighting is available or alternative lighting has been approved, the rink can be open until 10 p.m.

Lighting and free-standing structures

Free standing structures (such as warming huts) are not permitted to be built on City property.
Firepits are not permitted around the ice rinks.
Lighting sources must be approved and may be unique to each rink location.
In the interest of physical distancing, benches or other permanent seating fixtures are not allowed. Residents are encouraged to bring their own chairs and to maintain a 3-meter distance from others on and off the ice.

Hours and months of operation

City staff will strive to install rink boards through the month of December.
Pending appropriate weather, approved working groups may start building their ice any time after their boards are installed.
Resident leaders will be provided with signage that they may keep by the ice, indicating if it is open or closed based on weather and ice conditions.
Local Facebook groups or email chains are encouraged, so community members can have a point of contact for any questions or concerns they may have.
Boards will be removed by city staff when weather does not permit rinks (usually by March).
Reusable tarp to be removed and stored by community group for the following year.