It’s been a mild winter here in Aurora and the surrounding areas. One day it’s snowing, the next it’s melting. Temperatures drop below zero one day, and the next everything starts to thaw.
I kind of enjoy this back-and-forth because it means less dirty snow on the side roads. There’s nothing like a fresh blanket of white snow, making everything look like a winter wonderland.
Recently, the cold temperatures allowed ice to form on our local natural and stormwater management ponds, but it may not be thick enough for skating. Warmer temperatures can create hazardous conditions.
Due to mild winter conditions and the lack of outdoor skating rinks, many kids manage to skate on local ponds despite the warnings. Some ponds may not even be deep enough to be hazardous, but this is just an assumption.
When I moved to Aurora in 1997, McKenzie Marsh was a very popular spot for public skating. The two-lane St. John’s Sideroad would be packed with parked cars on both sides as families came to skate.
After the boardwalk was built, skating on the north side of St. John’s Sideroad (McKenzie Marsh) was no longer allowed, but kids still skate on the south side (Atkinson Park Wetland). Now, it’s usually just a small group of boys playing hockey. Every time they bring a hockey net, it’s sometimes half-sunk in the pond.
According to the website, “The Town of Aurora strongly recommends that these bodies of water not be used for recreational purposes of any kind, including winter skating, as ice conditions on these ponds are extremely unpredictable and potentially hazardous.”
Unfortunately, recommendations are not taken seriously here in Aurora.
