The Kamloops Outdoor Skating Association (KOSA) hopes to be celebrating after today’s council meeting.

City Council will decide how to move forward on the outdoor skating rink project that the group has long advocated for.

James Gordon with KOSA says they were hoping for a hockey and skating facility, but they’re fine with a dual-use skating rink and splash park, like the one being proposed.

“During the key summer months and the key winter months, there will be a splash park and the skating rink,” said Gordon. “I should also mention that I heard not that long ago, these dual-purpose facilities – the splash park and the skating rink, there’s a few of them out there.”

“It’s not like this is ground-breaking technologies, I think from a technological point, it’s a very doable alternative.”

Initially, the group was hoping was a hockey and skating rink, but that was nixed for “safety and other reasons.”

“We’re very happy with just a skating facility,” added Gordon. “There’s going to be some consideration for things like washrooms and parking and lighting.”

“It sounds like the city and the consultants really tried to consider all the different variables, as well as a Zamboni to clear the ice and keep it well maintained.

The outdoor rink could cost about $3-million dollars to build, and about $120,000 a year to operate.

The city is being asked to apply for more than $4-million in grant funding, which would help pay for the rink, as well as flood mitigation and other infrastructure projects in Riverside Park.

In the event that council votes against applying for the grant funding, Gordon says they’ll keep advocating for an outdoor skating facility in Kamloops.

“That’s been our goal from day one,” he added.