Residents enjoying new skating trail

LAC LA BICHE - Lac La Biche County residents have been skating their way through the pandemic the past couple of weeks on the new outdoor skating trail that goes from the boat launch to McArthur Park.

The skating trail is a meandering path, about 20 feet wide at some points, with some smaller side-channels, that runs about a kilometre along a portion of the Lac La Biche Lake shoreline. The trail is book-ended between two cleared skating rinks, one at McArthur Park, the other near the David Thompson statue.

Gary Harman, Lac La Biche County’s manager of parks and facilities, has been getting some encouraging feedback from the people who have tested out the new skating trail.

“The response has been very positive and people are enjoying the extra space created by the two open areas connected by the trail to get outside and be active,” said Harman. “We have also heard that staging areas created right on the lake with picnic tables and parking make it easy to get skates on and head out onto the trail.”

Outdoor space

Even though it is outside, skaters are expected to social distance while on the ice.

There aren’t any plans to expand the trail this year, but the parks staff do have bigger plans and more ideas for next year to get people outside and staying active. As for this year, Harman says there are still a lot of other outdoor activities for people to do now, and even more when the province opens up again.

“The Recreation department is working with Young Family Connections to have family snowshoe sets and basic hockey equipment available for use. Snowshoes will also be available through the Bold Center once we reopen,” said Harman.

Municipal crews have been busy over the last several weeks creating areas for residents to experience outdoor, COVID-compliant activities. With enhanced measures remaining in place when it comes to social gatherings, Harman said the idea is to make large areas accessible to the public looking for safe and healthy things to do.

“Also available is the skating oval at Alexander Hamilton Park, as well as picnic areas, a fire pit with supplied wood, and a toboggan hill. All our walking trails are cleared and perfect to get out for a walk or bike ride. The Ski Club has cross-country trails set at Churchill, as well as the Beaver Lake Group Use area.”

The County consistently maintains the new lakeshore trail and rinks, as well as the Alexander Hamilton trout pond’s ice surface by using their tried and true “Old Blue” Zamboni.

“We use a tool cat to clear the snow and sweep the ice. We use a Zamboni, “Old Blue,” to scrape the ice level,” said Harman. “It is our oldest Zamboni that came from the old Centennial Arena that we maintain for these purposes. It is also used at the oval skating area at Alexander Hamilton Park, and for the annual pond hockey event.”