Skating trail under construction, waiting on weather (4 photos)

The new ice-skating trail at Clergue Park and adjoining John Rowswell Park is under construction, but not quite ready for use.

City Council agreed this week to designate $20,000 toward the outdoor project, redirecting surplus cash from a 2018 account designated for conferences and special events.

"I'm really excited about this new project," Mayor Provenzano said in a social-media post.

Christie's RV is providing a 10-foot by 32-foot trailer to be used for warming and for changing skates.

Annual cost of developing and maintaining the trail is estimated at $36,300.

City Council will be asked to allocate additional funds toward the project when budget deliberations begin next month.

Plans for the trail call for it to be 14 feet wide and about 750 metres long.

Tessa Vecchio, the city's corporate communications officer, said the trail isn't yet ready for use.

"We are waiting for the weather to get a little bit colder, just so we have a good base," Vecchio said.

"That needs to be in place before the skating surface can open."

Maintenance work and equipment installation (lighting and stairs for the trailer) is also still underway, Vecchio told SooToday.

Watch SooToday for updates on city ice rinks to know when the new outdoor skating trail will open.