The Town of Sylvan Lake closed all neighbourhood outdoor skating rinks in early February 2026 (announced Feb. 5–6, 2026) because of unusually warm weather. Sylvan Lake Public Works made the decision to shut down the land-based rinks to keep residents safe and to prevent damage to rink surfaces as ice softened.
Warm temperatures have caused the ice at local park rinks, including those at Pogadl Park and Leader Field, to become soft and slushy. These neighbourhood rinks typically have thin ice layers that deteriorate quickly when temperatures stay above freezing for several days, making them unsafe for the public, town officials said.
While the smaller park rinks are off-limits, local reporting and the Towns parks information confirm that the maintained lake rinks on Sylvan Lake’s surface remain open for the time being. Town staff note that lake ice retains structural integrity longer because of the greater thermal mass of the lake, but emphasize that ‘the Town only monitors the lake ice in the area of our skating surfaces’ and that venturing beyond designated, maintained areas is at each user’s own risk.
Local media and town sources say crews have posted ‘Closed’ signage and restricted access at the shuttered neighbourhood rinks. Maintenance teams are monitoring conditions and are prepared to resurface and reopen neighbourhood pads when cold weather returns and safe freezing conditions allow flooding and re-creation of the ice surfaces.
