The City of Kamloops has released a new rendering that shows what the recently approved outdoor skating rink in Riverside is could look like once it is built.

It comes after Committee of the Whole members voted 7-0 to spend $5.4 million from the provincial government’s Growing Communities Fund on the rink, which was previously voted down after grant applications were denied.

In a statement, the Kamloops Outdoor Skating Society – which has spent years advocating for the new rink – thanked City Council for approving the rink.

“We believe that outdoor skating is a wonderful experience and we’re overjoyed that so many people in our amazing city will be able to enjoy it too,” the association said in a statement.

“A vision of a beautiful and family-friendly, affordable facility in a central location for all Kamloops citizens, as well as visitors, to enjoy during winter has been a central driving force of our association from the start.”

City Councillor Nancy Bepple, who recused herself from the committee vote because of her involvement with the Kamloops Outdoor Skating Association prior to her election, told Radio NL she was delighted to see the project become a reality once again.

“The long and the short is that Kamloops will be getting an outdoor skating rink down in Riverside Park and it should be fantastic,” Bepple said, on NL Newsday. “Think about it, skating under the fairy lights, in the winter and watching the river flow by, it’ll be just wonderful.”

Bepple says Kamloops residents have mostly been using Inks Lake to skate outdoors, but says it has been hit or miss because of the weather.

“There was a lot of freeze and thaw and so it was a challenging year this year,” Bepple said. “That’s another reason that it’s nice to have a refrigerated outdoor rink that you get that consistency.”

“Even if it’s zero it’s not cold enough for good ice but if you have a little bit of refrigeration you can skate all winter.”

The City says the infrastructure needed to operate the rink – including underground brine lines – was built under the new Riverside Park spray park, which is expected to open in time for the Memorial Cup later this year.

The rest of the upgrades at Riverside Park – which included flood-mitigation work, the demolition of the old concession and washroom buildings, and a new change room and washroom building – was completed last summer.

At this time, its not clear when the outdoor skating rink could be operational. That decision will be up to City Council, following the presentation of a business case as well as more information on costs and project scope.

Bepple says she hope that decision is made “as quickly as possible.”