Making winter a little better for the community kids

Times Reporter

 

Winter can be long and dreary, with kids having to spend more time in the house due to the chilly weather and a lack of outdoor activities. One Hillview couple have gone out of their way to provide entertainment for the kids in their community. Mike and Tamara Stevenson have cleared off a section of the lake behind their house for a skating rink and made a type of luge for tobogganing. 

“The biggest reason I would say that I clean it is, I just like seeing everybody out there having fun. I throw the skates on too and go out there,” said Mike.  

Last year he and his wife had tried to clear the pond a bit to make a skating area. He said they went out with their shovels to clear an area but it was too late in the year. The luge is something the Stevensons have made for a few years to help give their two children something to do.

“This year I have a snow blower so I thought I would give them a hand and try it out,” said Mike.

The first time they cleared and flooded the ice, it was after the big snow fall in late November. It took 12 hours, with two hours of that needed just to clear the ice for hockey.  

“We always make something back there for them to go sliding. It just got carried away this year and just got bigger and bigger.”

He made a device, using 225 feet of hose, to flood the lake and spread the water evenly using their own house water. During the weekends kids and adults alike can be seen filling the ice and waiting in line to take their toboggan down the hill. Mike said there is a natural divide between the skating area and the sledding side because of the snow bank they made. Mike and Tamara can be seen out on the lake clearing the snow after every snow fall. The Stevensons also have a variety of toboggans that they leave out for the community kids to use. 

“I hope it inspires people around the pond to get out and do stuff and have fun. It’s right there in our backyard, so why not?” said Mike. 

Mike said in January he will be back to work, so it will be hard for him to keep it up all winter. As long as they are able to keep clearing the snow and flooding the rink, the Stevensons plan to keep the luge and skating area maintained.