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Welcome to The Unofficial Website of Toronto's Outdoor Skating Rinks
There's nothing like outdoor skating
A project of CELOS (*)
Rink change area: There are no change rooms. There is a TTC bus shelter that has been re-purposed as a skate changing bench.
Staff: This is an unsupervised rink.
Maintenance: The ice is cleaned by a roving crew that serves several rinks.
Public Skating and open shinny hockey:
Free Pleasure-skating: Public skating all the time (shared use).
Free Shinny hockey: (Shared use).
Comments about this rink: e-mail us at [email protected].
good night lighting
There is a lively shinny scene at Summerlea
Click on picture to enlarge it.
2021 -2022
Rink reports from earlier years:
2020 - 2021
COVID-RELATED RESTRICTIONS: To find out how to book a skating time, go to the city's outdoor rinks web page.
All shinny hockey has been removed except for Greenwood (and only children and youth are allowed there). The city's opening rules are described here and our rinks blog is here.
Nov.28, 2020
opening day
- block-spacer
- )
2019 - 2020
Feb.28, 2020
The rink is closed for unspecified "mechanical problems."
2018 - 2019
Jan.29, 2019
The rink has been marked as open until yesterday and then it was listed as "snow removal in progress" (with over 25 cm of snow). At 1 p.m. it was again listed as open.
2017 - 2018
Jan.30,2018
Today the rink got off the "closed for a watermain break" list. Open again.
Open at last. Photo by Nathan Nicholas
Jan.23, 2018
Listed as closed due to a water main break. Again?
Jan.24, 2018, from Nathan Nicholas
Very skateable but could definitely use a few more nights to freeze, it's not as dense as it should be. Fun though
2 p.m., from Geri Dempsey: The temperature has dropped and the sun is out - a perfect winter day for skating finally. When I arrived at Summerlea rink, it was very confusing as to whether it was open or closed. I never quite figured that out. The ice looked thin and unused, like maybe the rink was just getting going. No sign of any staff but a City Truck was in the lot so I went over and asked them what the status of the rink was. He smiled. "Not from Parks and Rec", he said, "I'm water and sewage". He had no idea whether the rink was open for skating or not. The only indication it might be was a door in the fence was not padlocked and left ajar...No notices or signs indicating otherwise.
Jan.23, 2018
Listed as open.
Jan.20, 2018
A 311 tech services truck was just arriving at about 11.30. The compressors were on and steam was coming out of the condenser. The tech services guys said the power had been off and that's why the pipes burst, but now it's fixed and the rink should open before too long.
compressors are on
patchy ice forming
Jan.12, 2018, phone call from Councillor Michael Ford
He said that the rink has had a lot of issues, the most recent one being a burst water main during the cold spell. He said he had a meeting with the Parks manager yesterday and was told they would try to have the rink open in two weeks, despite the tricky problems, and that the crew are working on the rink now.
I asked about putting up a sign at the rink to let people know what's happening, and Councillor Ford said he'd ask for one.
Jan.5, 2018, response from Parks supervisor Graham Parsons
Summerlea AIR was scheduled to be opened for the season on December 2nd. During pre-opening inspections of the cooling systems, an issue with the headers that feed the pad was detected. Working with our capital staff and CIMCO, we initiated these major repairs that include replacing the entire header. Subsequently, issues with the compressor were also identified and we've added the replacement of the compressor to the scope of work being done currently. The equipment and systems at Summerlea are aged which has caused rink closures due to necessary repairs. The rink is scheduled for refurbishment in 2019 which will resolve these service issues. We anticipate the current work to be completed end of January, barring any other unforeseen equipment issues. As the timeline becomes clearer, and we have a more definitive date, we will update our website.
Jan.4, 2018, email to Parks supervisor Graham Parsons
Our cityrinks.ca site and our FB page have been getting some queries and complaints about Summerlea Rink being closed for much of the season again this year. As you can see on our Summerlea Rink page here, that neighbourhood lost many rink days due to closure in 2014 -- counting this year, that's a lot of down time.
We emailed the councillor's office in mid-December and she wrote that she would inquire -- but nothing has come back.
Do you know what the plans are?
Dec. 5, 2017
NO sign of any work being done, nor is there any information about what the problem is. There's only a crumpled sign attached to the fence says "Rink closed, thank you for a great season, see you next winter" -- not so far!
no ice, compressors not on, rubber mats still out from last year?
no sign of any repairs being done
the only sign, weather-beaten
Dec.2, 2017, email from H.Y.
I am writing to you in an attempt to gain understanding of the reasoning behind the closure. This is not the first time my home rink has been closed without any additional information from the City and would like this years attempts for maintenance be monitored and rectified in a timely manner. I have included Ward 2 Councillor Michael Ford into this email. There was slab and refrigeration work that was suppose to be renewed last year, and other complaints by city officials make this closure and length of closure questionable.
Note: The city's rink website says this rink is "Delayed opening due to mechanical issues, estimated to open mid - January 2018"
2016 - 2017
Dec.12, 2016, from Nathan Nicholas
Dec.13: good ice. Photo: Nathan Nicholas
So summerlea is definitely open and skateable. If it wasn't for the snow last night it would've been great.
Dec.9 2016
Summerlea is listed as "delayed for mechanical issues" but is now also listed as open.
2015 - 2016
Dec.27, 2015
Listed as closed, Dec.24 to Dec.27
2014 - 2015
Dec.2 2014
The rink opened Nov.22, closed Nov.30, reopened Dec.2.
2013-2014
Jan.21 2014
Phone call with Paul Saracino. He said that in the whole period of time Summerlea Rink was closed with no sign of explanation of it (26 days), not ONE person called the councillor's office to ask or to complain. Does anyone care about this rink?
Jan.16 2014 from Paul Saracino Constituency Assistant to Councillor Doug Ford in Ward 2
I was informed that the rink was reopened today. They told me the rink pad was leaking brine and there were other issues related to the chilling plant that delayed the reopening of the rink.
Jan.14 2014: Email from Jutta Mason to Paul Saracino Constituency Assistant to Councillor Doug Ford in Ward 2
The rink compressor is turned off. Summerlea is one of the city's 51 compressor-cooled ice rinks, so it ought to be running fine up to 10 celsius. If the water pipes froze up during the Dec.22 ice storm, when will they fix the pipes and let people skate again?
Jan.13 2014
This rink has been out of action since the ice storm on Dec.22. Today the compressor is not on. The rink is locked, but with NO signage stating that fact or giving any information. The ice surface is bumpy with ice in the same way that many park surfaces have bumpy ice at the moment.
rink locked, NO sign of any kind
no sign on the ice resurfacer door either
ice is bumpy like the iced-over grass nearby
ingenuity: bus shelters for changing skates
2011 - 2012
Dec.4 2011
December 4
Early evening: Great ice. There was a family of 4 skating and others just arriving. There were lots of signs of maintenance, and the driver had just left, having flooded with a machine. The bus shelter change room is kind of a nice touch to the rink. Some more staff time, with hot chocolate, could make this a pretty fun hangout spot. Lots of parking. No signs, however, were up about when the rink was officially opening.
2010 - 2011
Monday January 3 2011, e-mail from a skater named Eric, visiting from Kansas. Eric wrote:
Hey,
Just returned from a little vacation to Toronto to play some shinny and just hang out around the city.
Where I live in Kansas, I can get about 45 minutes of ice time per week, so it is a fun break to head up there and get a few hours per day.
I figured I've found your website so helpful, that i would run through our week and report on the rinks we visited.
Summerlea 4:30pm: This rink had half a dozen shinny players when we arrived. The ice was in OK shape. The crew arrived to clean the ice, but spent the entire time removing a large pool of blood from an injury on the ice surface and said they didn't have time to clean the rest of the rink as a result. After 6pm, the crowd picked up and about 20 shinny players tried to split the ice into two games, each with several teams. A few pleasure skaters, including several fairly young kids, tried to stay out of the way.
2007 - 2008
Thursday February 8
4:30pm The rink is completed buried in snow. An hour later, the rink operator at Westway says that in Etobicoke the priority after a snowstorm are the larger rinks (the so-called 'majors'). Summerlea is a 'minor,' i.e. an ice pad without boards, nets or changerooms. The operator at Westway said a roving crew was out cleaning the minors. However, it's worth noting that 'minor' rinks are sometimes busier than the 'majors,' partly because there are no permits and the ice is always available and partly because there are fewer rules. Players at Rivercrest, another 'minor' rink, said they played there because they didn't have to wear a helmet.
Sunday February 3
4:30pm The sign posted by the City says PRIORITY USE: PLEASURE Sunday all day, but this is an unsupervised rink and there is no City staff to tell the shinny players to stay off the ice. |Eight boys are playing a vigorous game of hockey. A family is leaving the rink. Asked if there's always shinny here on Sunday, the father says you can pleasure skate if you want. One of the hockey players says he plays here almost every day and the rink is usually busy except during school hours. A Polish-speaking family arrives at the rink. They don't live in the area and this is their first time here. The children pleasure skate along the side while hockey dominates the rest of the ice.
Saturday January 12
1:30pm The rink is empty but the ice is good.
Saturday December 8
12:45pm Maintenance workers are flooding the ice. Some children come and ask if the rink is open. A man comes and asks the same thing. The foreman of the crew working on the ice calls someone on the radio and then says the rink will be open in a couple of hours. The man who asked about the rink says it does get busy at times.
See Diaries tab
Views of the rink
|
There is a lively shinny scene at Summerlea Click on picture to enlarge it. |
 Posted rink schedule Click on picture to enlarge it. |
 Working on the ice, opening day December 8, 2007 |
 A city worker said the rink would be open later. |
Rink Diary
2021 -2022
Rink reports from earlier years:
2020 - 2021
COVID-RELATED RESTRICTIONS: To find out how to book a skating time, go to the city's outdoor rinks web page.
All shinny hockey has been removed except for Greenwood (and only children and youth are allowed there). The city's opening rules are described here and our rinks blog is here.
Nov.28, 2020
opening day
- block-spacer
- )
2019 - 2020
Feb.28, 2020
The rink is closed for unspecified "mechanical problems."
2018 - 2019
Jan.29, 2019
The rink has been marked as open until yesterday and then it was listed as "snow removal in progress" (with over 25 cm of snow). At 1 p.m. it was again listed as open.
2017 - 2018
Jan.30,2018
Today the rink got off the "closed for a watermain break" list. Open again.
Open at last. Photo by Nathan Nicholas
Jan.23, 2018
Listed as closed due to a water main break. Again?
Jan.24, 2018, from Nathan Nicholas
Very skateable but could definitely use a few more nights to freeze, it's not as dense as it should be. Fun though
2 p.m., from Geri Dempsey: The temperature has dropped and the sun is out - a perfect winter day for skating finally. When I arrived at Summerlea rink, it was very confusing as to whether it was open or closed. I never quite figured that out. The ice looked thin and unused, like maybe the rink was just getting going. No sign of any staff but a City Truck was in the lot so I went over and asked them what the status of the rink was. He smiled. "Not from Parks and Rec", he said, "I'm water and sewage". He had no idea whether the rink was open for skating or not. The only indication it might be was a door in the fence was not padlocked and left ajar...No notices or signs indicating otherwise.
Jan.23, 2018
Listed as open.
Jan.20, 2018
A 311 tech services truck was just arriving at about 11.30. The compressors were on and steam was coming out of the condenser. The tech services guys said the power had been off and that's why the pipes burst, but now it's fixed and the rink should open before too long.
compressors are on
patchy ice forming
Jan.12, 2018, phone call from Councillor Michael Ford
He said that the rink has had a lot of issues, the most recent one being a burst water main during the cold spell. He said he had a meeting with the Parks manager yesterday and was told they would try to have the rink open in two weeks, despite the tricky problems, and that the crew are working on the rink now.
I asked about putting up a sign at the rink to let people know what's happening, and Councillor Ford said he'd ask for one.
Jan.5, 2018, response from Parks supervisor Graham Parsons
Summerlea AIR was scheduled to be opened for the season on December 2nd. During pre-opening inspections of the cooling systems, an issue with the headers that feed the pad was detected. Working with our capital staff and CIMCO, we initiated these major repairs that include replacing the entire header. Subsequently, issues with the compressor were also identified and we've added the replacement of the compressor to the scope of work being done currently. The equipment and systems at Summerlea are aged which has caused rink closures due to necessary repairs. The rink is scheduled for refurbishment in 2019 which will resolve these service issues. We anticipate the current work to be completed end of January, barring any other unforeseen equipment issues. As the timeline becomes clearer, and we have a more definitive date, we will update our website.
Jan.4, 2018, email to Parks supervisor Graham Parsons
Our cityrinks.ca site and our FB page have been getting some queries and complaints about Summerlea Rink being closed for much of the season again this year. As you can see on our Summerlea Rink page here, that neighbourhood lost many rink days due to closure in 2014 -- counting this year, that's a lot of down time.
We emailed the councillor's office in mid-December and she wrote that she would inquire -- but nothing has come back.
Do you know what the plans are?
Dec. 5, 2017
NO sign of any work being done, nor is there any information about what the problem is. There's only a crumpled sign attached to the fence says "Rink closed, thank you for a great season, see you next winter" -- not so far!
no ice, compressors not on, rubber mats still out from last year?
no sign of any repairs being done
the only sign, weather-beaten
Dec.2, 2017, email from H.Y.
I am writing to you in an attempt to gain understanding of the reasoning behind the closure. This is not the first time my home rink has been closed without any additional information from the City and would like this years attempts for maintenance be monitored and rectified in a timely manner. I have included Ward 2 Councillor Michael Ford into this email. There was slab and refrigeration work that was suppose to be renewed last year, and other complaints by city officials make this closure and length of closure questionable.
Note: The city's rink website says this rink is "Delayed opening due to mechanical issues, estimated to open mid - January 2018"
2016 - 2017
Dec.12, 2016, from Nathan Nicholas
Dec.13: good ice. Photo: Nathan Nicholas
So summerlea is definitely open and skateable. If it wasn't for the snow last night it would've been great.
Dec.9 2016
Summerlea is listed as "delayed for mechanical issues" but is now also listed as open.
2015 - 2016
Dec.27, 2015
Listed as closed, Dec.24 to Dec.27
2014 - 2015
Dec.2 2014
The rink opened Nov.22, closed Nov.30, reopened Dec.2.
2013-2014
Jan.21 2014
Phone call with Paul Saracino. He said that in the whole period of time Summerlea Rink was closed with no sign of explanation of it (26 days), not ONE person called the councillor's office to ask or to complain. Does anyone care about this rink?
Jan.16 2014 from Paul Saracino Constituency Assistant to Councillor Doug Ford in Ward 2
I was informed that the rink was reopened today. They told me the rink pad was leaking brine and there were other issues related to the chilling plant that delayed the reopening of the rink.
Jan.14 2014: Email from Jutta Mason to Paul Saracino Constituency Assistant to Councillor Doug Ford in Ward 2
The rink compressor is turned off. Summerlea is one of the city's 51 compressor-cooled ice rinks, so it ought to be running fine up to 10 celsius. If the water pipes froze up during the Dec.22 ice storm, when will they fix the pipes and let people skate again?
Jan.13 2014
This rink has been out of action since the ice storm on Dec.22. Today the compressor is not on. The rink is locked, but with NO signage stating that fact or giving any information. The ice surface is bumpy with ice in the same way that many park surfaces have bumpy ice at the moment.
rink locked, NO sign of any kind
no sign on the ice resurfacer door either
ice is bumpy like the iced-over grass nearby
ingenuity: bus shelters for changing skates
2011 - 2012
Dec.4 2011
December 4
Early evening: Great ice. There was a family of 4 skating and others just arriving. There were lots of signs of maintenance, and the driver had just left, having flooded with a machine. The bus shelter change room is kind of a nice touch to the rink. Some more staff time, with hot chocolate, could make this a pretty fun hangout spot. Lots of parking. No signs, however, were up about when the rink was officially opening.
2010 - 2011
Monday January 3 2011, e-mail from a skater named Eric, visiting from Kansas. Eric wrote:
Hey,
Just returned from a little vacation to Toronto to play some shinny and just hang out around the city.
Where I live in Kansas, I can get about 45 minutes of ice time per week, so it is a fun break to head up there and get a few hours per day.
I figured I've found your website so helpful, that i would run through our week and report on the rinks we visited.
Summerlea 4:30pm: This rink had half a dozen shinny players when we arrived. The ice was in OK shape. The crew arrived to clean the ice, but spent the entire time removing a large pool of blood from an injury on the ice surface and said they didn't have time to clean the rest of the rink as a result. After 6pm, the crowd picked up and about 20 shinny players tried to split the ice into two games, each with several teams. A few pleasure skaters, including several fairly young kids, tried to stay out of the way.
2007 - 2008
Thursday February 8
4:30pm The rink is completed buried in snow. An hour later, the rink operator at Westway says that in Etobicoke the priority after a snowstorm are the larger rinks (the so-called 'majors'). Summerlea is a 'minor,' i.e. an ice pad without boards, nets or changerooms. The operator at Westway said a roving crew was out cleaning the minors. However, it's worth noting that 'minor' rinks are sometimes busier than the 'majors,' partly because there are no permits and the ice is always available and partly because there are fewer rules. Players at Rivercrest, another 'minor' rink, said they played there because they didn't have to wear a helmet.
Sunday February 3
4:30pm The sign posted by the City says PRIORITY USE: PLEASURE Sunday all day, but this is an unsupervised rink and there is no City staff to tell the shinny players to stay off the ice. |Eight boys are playing a vigorous game of hockey. A family is leaving the rink. Asked if there's always shinny here on Sunday, the father says you can pleasure skate if you want. One of the hockey players says he plays here almost every day and the rink is usually busy except during school hours. A Polish-speaking family arrives at the rink. They don't live in the area and this is their first time here. The children pleasure skate along the side while hockey dominates the rest of the ice.
Saturday January 12
1:30pm The rink is empty but the ice is good.
Saturday December 8
12:45pm Maintenance workers are flooding the ice. Some children come and ask if the rink is open. A man comes and asks the same thing. The foreman of the crew working on the ice calls someone on the radio and then says the rink will be open in a couple of hours. The man who asked about the rink says it does get busy at times.
To see the (2007-2008) report card, click here
Content last modified on November 27, 2022, at 06:51 AM EST