Just one week after opening, Kamloops’ new outdoor skating loop at Riverside Park is already drawing thousands of visitors and quickly establishing itself as one of the city’s most popular winter attractions.

The refrigerated skating facility officially opened on January 7, and Parks and Streets Manager Jeff Putnam says the response has exceeded expectations.

“It’s been a week since it’s been open and it feels like it’s been open a lot longer than that with the amount of people that have used it,” Putnam said. “It’s difficult for us to count the actual number of visitors, but I can guarantee you it would be in the thousands. Most people, especially local folks, are using it multiple times.”

Social media has been filled with photos and videos of skaters enjoying the 200-metre loop that winds through mature trees, illuminated by string lights and accompanied by music. Putnam says the rink is attracting a broad cross-section of the community, including many residents who haven’t skated in years.

“We’re getting lots of people dusting off their skates and enjoying it, and the feedback has just been overwhelmingly positive,” he said.

That renewed interest in skating is being felt well beyond Riverside Park. Over the weekend, Consignor Sports, which specializes in used sporting equipment, was a zoo of activity as families searched for skates. Staff at the store reported a backlog of skate sharpenings that stretched as long as two days, as demand surged from residents eager to get onto the new loop.

Players Bench on Lansdowne St. has seen similar spillover. Owner Russ Hunter says business has picked up noticeably since the loop opened, particularly when it comes to skate sharpening.

“We have seen a significant increase in traffic based on proximity,” Hunter said. “Sharpening is up in the 10-15 % range, especially after school with families getting their skates done and heading straight over because they’re so excited about the new offering.”

Hunter called the outdoor rink “a welcomed addition” and said it has been “great” for servicing skates, adding that the facility has brought new energy to winter recreation downtown.

Putnam says that kind of response underscores the broader need the project has tapped into.

“It tells me there’s definitely pent-up demand for free, accessible winter recreation,” he said. “Kamloops has so many options in the summer, but in the winter you’re typically indoors or at Sun Peaks, and it’s not inexpensive. This has been a huge boon.”

He added the project is already generating attention beyond city limits. Arena operators from across Western Canada were recently discussing the Riverside Park skating loop at a conference in Edmonton.

“The buzz is definitely real,” Putnam said.

The loop-style design, which evolved through years of planning, was intentionally created for leisure skating rather than hockey — a choice Putnam says has helped keep the space welcoming and safe for beginners.

“It very clearly appears like a skating facility, and that’s what we want to keep it as,” he said.

With usage already strong, attention now turns to the facility’s first major community celebration. The City will host a grand opening event on Saturday, January 17, from 2 to 5 p.m., inviting residents to “Celebrate the Ice.”

The event will include a ribbon cutting, free hot chocolate, food trucks, special guests, limited skate rentals, and beginner skating lessons offered by local skating clubs. City staff will also roll out QR codes to collect public feedback on the facility.

Weather permitting, the outdoor skating loop is expected to remain open into March, giving Kamloops residents plenty of time to enjoy what is quickly becoming a defining feature of the city’s winter season.