Officials say visitors to High Park may soon be officially permitted to skate on Grenadier Pond, but not this winter.
On Monday, Toronto's Parks and Environment Committee voted unanimously in favour of asking city council to allow skaters to use the pond next year.
The motion, first brought to the committee in October, recommends City Council implement an ice monitoring program next year. The city is asked to allocate $50,000 to hire an "ice engineer" who would test the thickness and quality of ice on the pond daily, for a period of eight weeks.
New signs would be created to let skaters know when the ice is safe to use, and which parts of the pond are available for skating. The public would be kept away from "environmentally sensitive" areas, the motion said.
The committee voted in favour of the cheaper of two options. The other option would include snow clearing, and would cost the city approximately $110,000 per year. The city would also have to purchase a Zamboni for $105,816.
If approved by council, skating will begin in the winter of 2016-17, weather permitting.
Skating has been banned on the pond since 2001, though signs about the ban are often ignored. Last year, the city sent bylaw officers to the area to hand out $125 infraction tickets, but skaters returned.
