The city’s first covered outdoor rink and a new skate path opened Saturday, part of the ongoing renewal of long neglected Greenwood Park in Toronto’s east end.

On cue, the first snowfall of the season and rosy cheeked kids.

And, unexpectedly, the mayor.

The rinks’ opening had been delayed about a year and cost about $3.4 million, to replace the ice pad, renovate change rooms, and build an elegant roof among other improvements.

The change rooms were packed, the skate paths and rink full, a sense of job well done and high fives among the Friends of Greenwood, a volunteer group who helped work for the improvements.

Then the mayor, wearing black loafers and a big grin, unannounced two hours after the official opening.

“It’s getting weird,” one dad said, glancing up as he unlaced his skates.

“We’ll just leave him alone,” said a clearly surprised Councillor Paula Fletcher, who had been skating, wearing a blue Leafs jersey. She’d been told Ford wasn’t coming.

Now that the troubled Ford — who has admitted to smoking crack, drunken binges, been the subject of police surveillance and whose pals face criminal charges — was at the rink, she didn’t want any mayoral hijinks spoiling the optimism of the day.

The mayor, stripped of most of his authority by city council last week, peered at the happy throngs on the ice.

“This is amazing,” he said. He declined to answer questions from the Star.

Ford said he used to play hockey, but hasn’t skated for a while. A handful of people, mostly children, wanted to be photographed with him.

It was an awkward scene at times. Kids thinking it was fun to see the mayor — “You’re the best” one shouted — and their parents pulling them away.

“What’s interesting is that it’s so subdued,” said Fletcher, “and that he’s on his own.” He and his driver meandered through the crowd, but were sometimes standing around on their own.

With Belynda Blyth, one of the Friends of Greenwood, Fletcher recalled what the park had been less than 10 years ago. Drifters slept on the park’s slopes. There were abandoned mattresses. The pool nearly closed because few were coming.

“It was ugly and dark,” said Fletcher.

“Oh, it was seedy,” said Blyth.

Now they have a dog park, an improved children’s playground, a community garden, and dream of how to use the covered rink throughout the year.

“A farmer’s market,” says Fletcher.

“Arts and crafts show,” says Blyth.

“A summer dance,” Fletcher adds.

A local mom comes by to thank Fletcher. “It’s user friendly,” says Teresa Neves. Kids used to find it intimidating crossing from one rink to another when players were in the throes of shinny. “My seven-year old is a hesitant skater and she is still out there, she hasn’t stopped today.”

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The opening was delayed when workers found old gas lines and other debris when they started to lay the new slab for the rinks. The area used to be an old brick yard and dump.

Funding came from the city’s state of good repair and cash-in-lieu fund from developers, who, if they cannot donate park land when they develop a site, will contribute cash.

Next, says Joanne Murphy, Friends of Greenwood would like to see a grove of native trees planted in the park. It would be a learning experience for children. “We don’t know where it’s going to end.”