Rink Of Dreams

[reidjr]

ctvottawa.ca

The City of Ottawa plans to build a $1.25-million outdoor "Rink of Dreams" outside City Hall that would create a winter meeting place similar to Rockefeller Plaza in New York City or Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square.

The plan calls for an oval rink at Marion Dewar Plaza that would span more than 12,000 square feet, making it one of the largest outdoor rinks in the city. If council approves the project, the rink could be ready by next winter.

If approved, residents and tourists will be able to lace up their skates annually to take a skate on the rink from November to March. The area will be used as a community space during the spring and summer months.

The Sens Foundation plans to contribute $1 million towards the design and construction of the rink, while the city will commit $250,000 towards the project. A portion of the proceeds from the Hockey Canada Foundation Gala and Golf Tournament held in June will also be donated.

If council approves the plan, the rink could open by mid-December.


*Submitted comments are subject to moderation

[Ottawan]

I was going to ask who would use this rink mere steps from the Canal, but on reflection it could be quite popular if it uses an artificial cooling system, since it's suggested season is several months longer than that of the Canal.

[rocketphish]

City to tap capital budget for new ice rink

Published on May 20, 2011
OBJ Staff
Ottawa Business Journal

The city will seek approval to cleave $250,000 out of its capital budget, a sum that has not been accounted for yet, towards a proposed $1.25-million skating rink at city hall.

At an announcement Friday morning, Mayor Jim Watson billed the 12,500-square-foot facility at Marion Dewar Plaza, called "Rink of Dreams", as both a tourist and local resident draw.

City staff have been asked to find money out of the existing capital budget, Mr. Watson said. Council would then need to approve the spending. Total authorized capital spending authority in 2011 is $622 million, according to city budget documents.

The Ottawa Senators, the other major partner in the project, are kicking off a $1-million fundraising drive expected to be finished at the end of June. Much of that money is expected to come from the Hockey Canada Foundation Gala and Golf Tournament in late June.

Should the money be available and construction proceed as planned, the rink would be open by the end of 2011.

The rink would be one of the largest in the city, open from November to March, and then available as a "community space" for the rest of the year.

City officials said they would work with the National Capital Commission to bring festivals and other events to the area during the warmer months, or if the Rideau Canal closes during Winterlude due to warm weather.





http://www.obj.ca/Local/City-Hall/20...new-ice-rink/1

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Looks kind of boring and simple, actually...

[kwoldtimer]

Yeah, I was thinking it would be nice to have a better render (including what it will look like in summer. The drawing with the article is pretty uninspiring.

[kevinbottawa]

I find Ottawa likes to over embellish when presenting these projects. Mayor Watson compared the rink to Nathan Phillips Square in T.O. and some media compared it to both Nathan Phillips Square and the Rockerfeller Center. Those are two pretty iconic places. The rendering looks like your average community rink. The same thing happened with the proposed public square at Rideau-Sussex when it was compared to Times Square and Picadilly Circus. I was there for the announcement this morning and after the big intro and comparisons to Nathan Phillips and Rockerfeller I was let down by the rendering. I really like the idea but it would've been better to be modest than to hype it up.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Jamaican-Phoenix

Looks kind of boring and simple, actually...

Perfect for Ottawa, then!

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Perfect for Ottawa, then!

I'd laugh if it weren't so true.

This looks no more expensive than the outdoor rink at McNabb Arena, yet it somehow is going to cost $19 million? For that price, it better be like Rockefeller Center/Bryant Park; surrounded by shops, stores, cafes, high density traffic and other events.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Not 19 million J-P, 1.25 million. I am sure the most of that is to pay for the artificial ice plant that goes under it. They cost a pretty penny.

A major beneficiary of this project will be uOttawa students who live in residence or private rental units in Sandy Hill. A short walk across the Laurier Av bridge and they are at the rink for recreational skating from November to March , regardless of the temperature and the condition of the canal.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Originally Posted by LeadingEdgeBoomer

Not 19 million J-P, 1.25 million. I am sure the most of that is to pay for the artificial ice plant that goes under it. They cost a pretty penny.

A major beneficiary of this project will be uOttawa students who live in residence or private rental units in Sandy Hill. A short walk across the Laurier Av bridge and they are at the rink for recreational skating from November to March , regardless of the temperature and the condition of the canal.

Even at $1.25 million, that seems a tad steep.

[gjhall]

Originally Posted by Jamaican-Phoenix

Even at $1.25 million, that seems a tad steep.

How much does such a product normally cost?

[blackjagger]

Originally Posted by gjhall

How much does such a product normally cost?

At least 1 Million without the plant.

Josh

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Carleton and uOttawa are talking about some day having an annual Puck Classic. A double header between the womens and mens teams.

They want it outdoors. They want it on artificial ice to eliminate the uncertainty of ice conditions.

The new Lansdowne has been considered. It has the seating , but the cost of bringing in a portable ice plant might be prohibitive.

I wonder if the Rink of Dreams could be adapted to this project. Bringing in temporary bleachers for this game probably would be less expensive than a temporary ice plant.

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by LeadingEdgeBoomer

Carleton and uOttawa are talking about some day having an annual Puck Classic. A double header between the womens and mens teams.

They want it outdoors. They want it on artificial ice to eliminate the uncertainty of ice conditions.

The new Lansdowne has been considered. It has the seating , but the cost of bringing in a portable ice plant might be prohibitive.

I wonder if the Rink of Dreams could be adapted to this project. Bringing in temporary bleachers for this game probably would be less expensive than a temporary ice plant.

If ottawa and carleton along with the sens, 67s and olmpiques are went in and bought a artifical pad long term it may be the best thing to do.Say all in it costs around 80 grand have team team pay $20 thousand that should be more then enough for the pad and up keep for a couple years.

[Sven Casselman]

Not exactly an ideal location for a rink. Parking is already terrible downtown and Im not even sure there will be enough accomodation for the amount of people they expect to draw. Ah well, that's just Ottawa trying to catch up to the rest of North America I guess

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Sven Casselman

Not exactly an ideal location for a rink. Parking is already terrible downtown and Im not even sure there will be enough accomodation for the amount of people they expect to draw. Ah well, that's just Ottawa trying to catch up to the rest of North America I guess

Yeah, it would be smarter to put it in Kanata. Availability of free parking is clearly the most important criteria when planning these projects.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Originally Posted by phil235

Yeah, it would be smarter to put it in Kanata. Availability of free parking is clearly the most important criteria when planning these projects.

Snap.




.

[gjhall]

Originally Posted by Sven Casselman

Not exactly an ideal location for a rink. Parking is already terrible downtown and Im not even sure there will be enough accomodation for the amount of people they expect to draw. Ah well, that's just Ottawa trying to catch up to the rest of North America I guess

Yes, this location on top of a massive underground parking garage (City Hall, hello?) will be a major problem for parking availability...

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

ghjall wrote

Yes, this location on top of a massive underground parking garage (City Hall, hello?) will be a major problem for parking availability...

Also a great benefit to 40,000 students and employess at uOttawa . They can walk to there from the campus in a matter of minutes, , from early November to late March. Grat new recreational facility for them and it did not cost the uni a cent.

Plus all Uni and college students can use their uni-pass to get there from home or other another campus.

Occurs to me that the city hall underground parking is not heavily used on weekends. Perhaps it will now, and the city can get some additional revenue.

[bobcage]

Originally Posted by gjhall

Yes, this location on top of a massive underground parking garage (City Hall, hello?) will be a major problem for parking availability...

Ottawa 's rink is very nice and colorful but it's too small - I remember everybody was complaining too much money to build, waist of money beside the Canal ect ect ... Today it was packed !!

it's too bad they did not build it bigger - like the one in Markham

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=AFuTmkGDNXo