The Town of Blackfalds, Alberta, has officially closed all outdoor skating rinks for the remainder of the 2026 season. Warmer temperatures have made the ice surfaces unsafe for the public to use, effectively ending the outdoor skating season for the year.
This closure affects all community skating spaces, including the Willow Park Skating Loop, the Willow Park Outdoor Rink, Centennial Pond Rink, Pine Crescent Outdoor Rink, and Riser Pond. Since these outdoor spaces rely entirely on freezing weather, they must close as spring temperatures continue to rise across the region.
Local families looking for other ways to stay active can still use indoor facilities. The town is directing residents to check for available times at indoor rinks such as the Eagle Builders Centre.
The municipal parks team usually begins preparing these outdoor ice surfaces in late November. Residents will have to wait for the return of consistent cold weather late in 2026 before the rinks can open again.
