CENTRE WELLINGTON – Tobogganing is back on at Foote Park and Southridge Park in Elora, but there are still limitations at hills at Ferrier Park in Fergus.
Last month the township issued a notice it was closing tobogganing hills pending an inspection by staff and the township’s insurance provider.
At the Feb. 24 council meeting, manager of parks Lucas Rogerson explained that while Southridge and Foote parks are fairly safe, Ferrier Park has some significant hazards.
He recommended allowing Foote and Southridge to remain open for the remainder of this season but to prohibit tobogganing at Ferrier Park.
Hazards at Ferrier include trees and concrete blocks marking a road allowance at the bottom of the hill.
There is also a hydro box and various benches along tobogganing routes. There are two hills at Ferrier – one with more hazards than the other.
Three community-maintained outdoor skating rinks were also inspected: Bissell Park and Southridge Park in Elora and Highland Park in Fergus.
In every case – both hill and rink – signage and regular inspections are recommended.
Rogerson said what’s really needed is a formalized winter activities risk management program.
That is something staff will develop over the summer to have in place by October – well ahead of snow season. That will give time for some community education as well, he said.
Rogerson also noted there is only one staff person who takes care of the hills and rinks.
Their job includes collecting garbage, clearing snow, and now doing these regular inspections.
This winter there are 11 rinks in Elora and Fergus managed by volunteers. All will need regular inspections, he said.
In Elora, they are located at:
- Southridge Park, 3323 Stafford Street;
- Bissell Park, 23 Melville St.;
- Jefferson Elora Community Centre (Ball Diamond A), 27 David St. W.;
- Drimmie Park, 65 Keating Dr.; and
- Elora Meadows Park, 109 Marr Dr., Salem.
Rinks in Fergus include:
- Highland Park (Tye Diamond), 404 Thistle St.;
- Strathallan Park, 220 Strathallan St.;
- Webster Park, 15 Churchill Cres. W.;
- Beatty Park, 590 St. Andrew St. W.;
- Kirvan Park, 25 Kirvan St.; and
- Ryan Park, 67 Ryan St.
Given all that, Rogerson hoped council would authorize hiring another seasonal labourer to help with winter control until April this year and to resume in October and through next winter.
The cost would be $12,000 for this year and could be absorbed in operating costs, he said.
The cost for a full season would be $29,000, to be discussed during 2026 budget deliberations.
Councillor Jennifer Adams hoped the less dangerous hill at Ferrier Park could remain open for the rest of this season and council eventually agreed.
Ferrier Park is the only tobogganing hill in Fergus.
“An outright ban is hard,” said Adams.
“We want to make sure there is equitable access,” councillor Barb Evoy agreed.
Council also agreed to the seasonal hire and for staff to prepare the winter activities risk management program.
