A skating track of more than two kilometres appeared in Kontiolahti at the beginning of December. Now it is flooded with skaters and the lights of headlamps show that even the darkness of mid-winter does not stop skaters from enjoying the ice.
The light of an ice rink shines in the dusky evening on the ice of the small Onkilampi pond in Lehmo, Kontiolahti. Next to the lantern is a fresh sign directing pilgrims to dig the openings away from the newly opened skating rink, so that water does not rise to the ice and spoil the nature sports site, which was built with the help of volunteers.
However, Santa Claus from the Lehmo Village Association heard about the men’s efforts, and remembered them with a gift basket. Now a Lehmo entrepreneur has also started to sponsor fuel costs for the ploughmen.
Backcountry skiing is on a great upswing. In just a few years, the number of enthusiasts has increased by several thousand.
In addition to the people of Talkoo and companies, some municipalities have also made the joys of excursion skating possible. For example, a 10-kilometer track on the ice of Tuusulanjärvi is being prepared in cooperation between the two municipalities.
Citizens’ initiatives are welcome
Local nature exercise facilities are often created and maintained by volunteers at the hands of private individuals or associations, even though there may be hundreds of users. The popular Lykynlammi ice skating rink in Liperi municipality is managed by the Joensuu Ladu talkooväki.
– When this Onkilammi track immediately became so popular, the idea arose that the municipality could take over the management of the track. A small investment would get a lot of people moving, Kontkanen thinks.
The 430 participants who, in just under two days, went to write their names in the municipal initiative for the municipality share the same opinion. The initiative hopes that the municipality will take care of the plowing of the Onkilammi excursion skating rink.
– Feedback comes both through the official municipal initiative service and through e-mails and phone calls; everything is accepted and processed, Jormanainen says.
For example, the Lehmo frisbee golf course initiative got the green light, and the land acquisition is now pending. The board will process the plowing request for the Onkilammi skating rink during January.
– First, we will also find out the possibility of Joensuu participating in the costs, a significant part of the users of the Onkilamme track come from the Joensuu side, says Jormanainen.