Monday, May 25, 2015 (Halifax, NS) – Grab your wheels and head to the Emera Oval for some free family fun this weekend. The skating track officially reopens Saturday, May 30, for rollerblading, roller-skating and cycling.

The summer season will kick off with public skates starting at 2 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, May 31. To view the entire summer schedule, please visit www.halifax.ca/skateHRM.

All events are weather dependent. In the event of bad weather, residents can check the online schedule for closures and cancellations or call the Emera Oval hotline at 902-490-2347.

During these scheduled, monitored events, participants can borrow roller skates, inline skates and all the required safety gear for free. Please note that a valid government-issued photo ID is required to borrow equipment, including helmets.

Equipment is distributed on a first come, first serve basis and cannot be reserved. For those who have their own equipment, the Emera Oval is open to use at their convenience. However, participants should note that in the summer months, as per provincial law, all users are required to wear a helmet.

The Emera Oval is a great place for school trips, birthday parties and day camp activities. Large groups are welcome and are encouraged to book ahead at www.halifax.ca/SkateHRM. If you need to cancel your reservation, please give as much advanced notice as possible to ensure other groups are able to attend.

Visitors to the Emera Oval will notice that construction is now underway on a new building that will house the ice resurfacers, skate rental, sharpening and storage rooms, staff offices and public washrooms.

Construction will continue into the fall and should not affect activities on the track. The building is expected to be complete by mid-December 2015, in time for the next skating season. To view the designs, visit http://www.halifax.ca/skatehrm/OvalOpenHouse.php.

Source: Release