Rink at Lakes of Muirfield improved

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

This year’s skating rink at Lakes of Muirfield will be bigger and better, but its location may only be temporary.

Wheatland County council approved a development permit during its regular meeting on Oct. 6 for the skating rink at Lakes of Muirfield. The development permit provides for a 200 by 85 ft. community outdoor rink, which shares a 5.2-acre lot with the Mercantile building.

Previously, the skating rink was constructed at the location on a snowbank, but now it has a rink board system, requiring a larger area to accommodate the boards.

The Lakes of Muirfield Homeowners’ Association raised funds for the rink. Volunteers will be responsible for erecting and maintaining the rink boards, flooding the ice, clearing snow and maintaining the ice surface.

The county performed site preparation to level the site and ensure proper drainage. During this work, buried storm lines and manholes were discovered that were not on any maps and were unknown to the county. This means the rink location will be suitable for one to two years only, until a more long-term site is found, said Suzanne Hayes, development officer with Wheatland County.

In response, the permit approval was made conditional on an agreement between the county and homeowners’ association that the rink structure is temporary only. This agreement will also establish cost responsibilities for each party, including a stipulation that the county is not responsible for costs associated with relocating the rink.

The county is offering to refund wastewater fees associated with water use for rink flooding.

The permit has a two-year term, but the applicants can reapply for a new permit at the end of this period.