City ponds ready for skaters, but not without ‘risk’

It is now officially cold enough to head out to your local pond for a skate.

A number of ponds tested around the city show the ice has exceeded or has met the required 16 inches to make it safe enough to venture out on.

When the ice reaches a thickness of 16 inches, it is strong enough to hold a large vehicle.

That said, there will always be some risk.

“We’re dealing with storm water retention ponds, so there’s a potential for water flow from inlet to outlet,” said Wayne Rodger, with the Saskatoon fire department. “So we want to make sure in taking the utmost in public safety, in these areas, where there’s the potential for the ice to be less than the rest of the of the pond, we want to make sure that those areas are beyond a shadow of a doubt, are safe to go on.”

Rodger wants people who notice any open water out on a retention pond to report it right away.

Signs will be posted at individual ponds to indicate whether the ice is thick enough to venture out on.

“There’s always some risk when you are out on ice. So be aware,” Rodger said.

The city will reassess once the temperature rises above zero again.