Safety concerns keep Trout Lake closed to skating on Monday

Trout Lake, aka Vancouver’s outdoor skating destination of choice last week, is still closed today due to unsafe conditions.

See also

• Trout Lake closed to ice skating on Sunday due to safety concerns
• Skaters take to the ice on Trout Lake (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
• Coquitlam's frozen Como Lake open for free outdoor ice skating (PHOTOS)

In a release, the Vancouver Parks Board said the lake will be closed today and tomorrow, with a possibility of re-opening to skaters later in the week, depending on weather and ice conditions.

Park rangers were at the East Vancouver lake Monday morning, and observed a number of slushy spots, as well as areas where the weekend’s rain had softened the surface ice and created an uneven surface.

And while the ice has been deemed unsafe for skating at this point, “we are hopeful that Mother Nature will give us another opportunity to enjoy this wonderful outdoor skating experience,” said park board chair, Michael Wiebe. “Our staff will be assessing daily when freezing temperatures return and it’s our intention to try to re-open this ice as soon as we determine that conditions are safe.”

#TroutLake skating will remain closed today and tomorrow due to unsafe conditions. We’re hoping to reopen later this week. pic.twitter.com/ssh7Ni11oE

— Vancouver Park Board (@ParkBoard) January 9, 2017

In the meantime, warning signs remain around Trout Lake and ice patrol staff as well as park rangers will be patrolling the area.

The Park Board will provide public updates on Trout Lake ice via social media at noon each day, beginning Wednesday of this week and lasting until the winter conditions are over.

No other ponds in Vancouver have ice thick enough to allow public skating at this point, the release added.

However, those looking to get their outdoor skating fix don’t have to Tavel too far away, as Coquitlam’s Como Lake remains open for skating.