A proposal to transform Blewett’s seasonal Morning Mountain skating rink into a covered, year-round recreation facility is now being reviewed by the Regional District of Central Kootenay.
The Blewett Community Society has applied to the RDCK to build a permanent concrete pad that could support a roll-out chiller during the winter, allowing the site to maintain ice through warmer weather.
The longer-term vision includes a covered structure over the rink, which could allow the facility to be used throughout the year.
The RDCK has accepted the application and will now review whether it wants to support the project.
The society first presented its proposal to the RDCK in June. At that time, it proposed keeping the rink at roughly its current 40-by-80-foot size, while leaving room to potentially make it larger depending on approvals and site considerations.
The group said the project is being proposed in response to increasingly difficult ice-making conditions. It noted how Morning Mountain had only a handful of skateable days in 2026, despite its higher elevation and established rink infrastructure.
The current rink has been operating since 2017 and is supported by the Blewett Community Society, RDCK parks staff, volunteers and community partners. When conditions are favourable, the rink can see up to 100 skaters a day.
If it moves forward, the proposed project would be completed in phases.
The first phase is estimated at about $305,000 and includes the concrete pad, rink boards, foundations and site preparation.
A second phase, estimated at about $570,000, would add the chiller, timber structure, roofing, lighting and related work.
That puts the preliminary total at about $875,000, though the society noted that could vary by roughly 30 per cent as the design develops.
The society is also looking beyond winter skating, envisioning a facility that could accommodate other activities, including roller skating and potentially other community recreation uses.
The society has also indicated it wants to work with the local cycling community on how the facility could fit into the existing park, including access to the cycling and walking trails.
For now, the project remains in the review stage. The society expects to learn by spring 2027 whether the RDCK will support the proposal.
If the district does support it, the society plans to pursue funding from other sources to see it through.
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