If you are looking to get in a skate at Lily Lake, the city is asking you to wait a little bit longer for your own safety.
The popular ice skating surface in Saint John’s Rockwood Park is usually open by now and full of skaters.
But the city’s director of public works and transportation says the ice is still too thin at this point because of the warmer-than-usual temperatures.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Tim O’Reilly said the ice is only about 15 centimetres thick at this point.
While some organizations like the Canadian Red Cross recommend ice thickness of 15 to 20 centimetres for skating, O’Reilly said the city will not consider the ice safe for skating until it is at least 30 centimetres thick.
“We do have to put equipment on the ice in order to plow it off so it can be maintained for the public reason,” he said. “Lily Lake is very popular, so we have a number of people on the ice surface at one time, so we have to account for the additional weight.”
Thin-ice signs and barricades are set up to deter people from skating on Lily Lake. (Image: Brad Perry)
O’Reilly said springs within Lily Lake also lead to variations in ice thickness, so they want to ensure they have a buffer in place.
Several signs have been posted along the edge of the lake warning about the thin ice.
“I’m not aware of people falling through the ice, but the risk is there because it’s not safe to be in,” said O’Reilly. “Until it is safe, we ask people not to be on Lily Lake.”
City staff will continue to measure the ice thickness on Lily Lake twice a week and will let people know when it is safe for skating, he said.
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