Years ago, I was surfing the website of Project for Public Spaces, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting great community places around the world... and it featured Dufferin Grove Park! I'm not surprised. The Friends of the Grove turned it around after the 90's. The leisure skating rink in itself is not as whimsical as the rest of the park, of a regular shape, with fences (there's another one for hockey with boards) but it is made pretty with a few decorations. And it is the only one with such an involvement of the community. On their website, you can read: "In the event of snow, if rink users help staff in clearing the ice, the rink opens faster. We have lots of shovels."
It's the only rink where you can buy a slice of bread freshly baked in the park's oven, as a snack. It is also the only place where groups can reserve a campfire. Call them for details (I don't know if you need to call the City of Toronto to make arrangements). They have washrooms and a changing room. You can rent skates for $2 and borrow a helmet. Since my last visit, it appears they have created a Rink House in the building adjacent to the rinks, with wood stove, gams, toys and lockers.
