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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday January 2, 2008 - 5 Cold weather lifts community spirits By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF While adults dream of Cuba and other tropical paradises, children throughout the Old Abbey Park area and beyond are praying for colder weather to bring back what is fast becoming an Oakville tradition. For the past five years Oakville resident Case Feenstra and a small, but dedicated group of volunteers, have utilized the freezing temperatures of winter to build what has been dubbed Oakville's largest outdoor ice rink. "We've really made three rinks in essence," said Feenstra. "One we split in half so they're about 65feet wide by about 140-feet long and the other one will be about 65-feet wide by about 70-feet long." Skating enthusiasts get a wide variety of activities from Feenstra's rink as each section is used for a different purpose with one section for hockey playing, one section for free skating and one section for younger children and people who prefer a slower pace. Set up inside the tennis courts of Old Abbey Park the rink got off to an early start this year when December's cold weather gave Feenstra what he needed to get going. "We just had it open for a few days because the beginning of December was nice and cool and about a week and a half ago after the big snow storm we cleaned it up and we had some good ice," said Feenstra. "But, it only lasted for two days and then it was gone again. We'll start building it up again when the weather turns in January. (At that time) It will only take about three or four days to have it up and running again." As the rink was only open for a short period in December only a few neighbourhood people had the opportunity to enjoy it, however, if the turnout during the rink's regular season is anything like last year's a lack of attention will not be a problem. "This past year we had a great long spell, we had about seven weeks of straight skating and during that time we had between 3,0004,000 people use the rink," said Feenstra. "We'd open up in the morning (at 8 a.m.) BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER VOLUNTEERS: Among the many volunteers who helped maintain community skating rink on the tennis courts at Old Abbey Lane Park last year were (l-r) Ed Murphy, Bruce Hietkamp and Case Feenstra. and at night we'd turn the lights on so peoWhy go through all the trouble of spray- in seeing the joy the rink brings to so many ple can skate until 9 p.m." ing water on a rink for hours while endur- people despite the fact that he rarely uses it Building and maintaining such a large ing the subzero temperatures of a winter himself. outdoor ice rink has not been easy or cheap night? "I'm not really an ice hockey person and with Feenstra paying some of the expenses Feenstra said it started out as a way to I don't skate as often as I used to because I of keeping the rink open, including the cost stop kids from partying and vandalizing the have weak ankles, but I enjoy seeing the of lights and the generator to fuel them, out Old Abbey Park. people on it," he said. of his own pocket. "The community wanted more policing "Especially the kids, they make up their The rink also needs constant care to keep to deal with the troubles in the park and I own little games and the interesting thing is it operational, but fortunately Feenstra has was like, `Okay, if we don't use the park the I've never seen anyone fighting on it or hithelp in this area. kids will use it for their own purposes,'" he ting each other. I also like how no one is "Every night at 9 p.m. I go there with a said. excluded, it's a place where young and old bunch of neighbours and we clean up the "That's why we started this as a way to can gather and enjoy their time together." ice and spray on new water," he said. give the kids something to do in the winter Anyone who is interested in helping "We have to spray water every night to time." Feenstra maintain the rink can call him at keep surface area." Feenstra said he also gets great pleasure 905-330-0727. If you have a news tip or story idea, call the Oakville Beaver at 845-3824. Warm Your Soul FREE GAS FIREPLACE *Limited Time! Installation extra. With purchase of furnace & air Up to $ Cash Back UP TO $2400 UP TO 4700 UP TO *Call for details. Financing Available * NO PAYMENT! NO INTEREST! FOR 6 MONTHS *OAC AND + $1500 + $800 MANUFACTURERS HYDRO GOV. CASH BACK CASH BACK CASH BACK "MASONRY & FIREPLACE DESIGN SPECIALISTS" 8 Locations To Serve You Better! w w w. c o b b l e s t o n e m b e r s . c a 905-849-4998 www.aireone.com 1-888-827-2665 406 SPEERS RD., OAKVILLE ACROSS FROM RONA LANSING 905.337.2066