Residents of Windsor, Ontario, can prepare their skates as the city's highly anticipated new downtown ice rink is on the verge of opening its ice to the public. Located at the transformed City Hall Square, the facility is in its final preparation phase, with officials confirming the ice surface is nearly ready.
Final Touches Before the First Skate
City Manager James Chacko provided an update on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, stating that the project is "getting very close" to completion. While a formal grand opening date is still being finalized, Chacko indicated a soft opening will occur "shortly."
"Things are coming together nicely," Chacko told the Windsor Star. "There are just a few last finishing touches required before we can have people out there and enjoying it." The city began making ice the previous week, and the surface is now reported to be just about ready for skaters.
From Concrete Pad to Winter Wonderland
The conversion of the multi-use concrete pad outside Windsor City Hall into a seasonal skating rink is a significant part of a larger project. Work commenced in late October with the draining and winterizing of the summer water feature. By early November, a refrigeration contractor had begun preparing the on-site plant.
The new, oval-shaped rink measures 26 by 60 metres and is situated immediately north of city hall. It is accompanied by a pavilion housing public washrooms and a Zamboni ice resurfacer. Additional site work includes installing fencing, rubber matting, lighting, and seasonal decorations.
A Long-Awaited Replacement with Modern Efficiency
This new rink serves as a replacement for the aging facility at Charles Clark Square. Windsor City Council voted to decommission that rink in 2022 after learning that repairs to its refrigeration system would cost an estimated $1 million. A basic replacement was initially projected at $4 million.
The decision was made to create a more ambitious, year-round event space. The total transformation of the previously vacant City Hall Square, including the ice rink, water feature, landscaping, and public amenities, came at a cost of approximately $15.5 million. The space first opened in July 2025 for the city's 133rd birthday celebration, featuring its water elements.
Chacko highlighted that the new refrigeration system will be "much more efficient" than the old one at Charles Clark Square. This improved technology is expected to maintain skatable ice even during periods of above-zero winter temperatures, though challenges may still arise from hard rainfall or intense sunshine.
The rink will be open to the public free of charge. Its development follows the recent opening of LaSalle's new outdoor skate 'loop,' highlighting a regional emphasis on providing accessible winter recreation for residents.
