A Christchurch city councillor wants to build an outdoor ice skating rink in Cathedral Square, hoping it could bring more people into the heart of the city.
Councillor Aaron Keown came up with the idea as part of wider plans to revitalise Cathedral Square, which has felt quiet for years while the earthquake-damaged Christ Church Cathedral sits behind fences as a construction site.
Keown says new pavers and plant boxes alone won’t be enough to draw people in. He thinks an ice rink could flip the problem on its head, turning winter, usually the quietest time, into the busiest. “For me, the square is the centre of town and you want to bring people in,” he said. He also floated the idea of hosting a major figure skating event each year, with the surrounding historic buildings lit up around it.
Fellow councillor Nathaniel Herz Jardine backed the idea, saying set-up costs could be around $200,000. He said what the city needs most right now isn’t big expensive architectural plans, but something affordable and fun for families and young people, especially during those quiet weekday afternoons.
It’s not a completely new idea either. Back in 2017, a 375 square-metre rink operated near the old post office for KidsFest, and around 10,000 people were expected to give it a go during the school holidays. Meanwhile, the Cathedral Square redesign is already underway, with five groups shortlisted to submit proposals. The council has set aside $28.5 million for the project.
The ice rink idea still needs staff feedback and a council decision before anything moves forward, but for Christchurch kids, it’s definitely worth watching.
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