Neighbourhood Rinks

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’).

• Providing a tarp and hoses.

• Providing a training manual including tips on ice maintenance.

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 25 or less to avoid overcrowding in and off the ice.

• 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.

• 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 25 or less to avoid overcrowding in and off the ice.
• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• COVID-19 Public health guidelines for outdoor recreational spaces
• Halton Region’s COVID-19 information and guidance