When I was a kid my school always had two big rinks in the school yard. They were awesome. We could skate before school, at lunch and any time when school wasn't on.
Where I used to live in Toronto I had two excellent outdoor rinks within walking distance (Riverdale Park and Withrow Park).
As for backyard rinks, I grew up in apartments so there was never room on the balcony.
But some years my brother would make a rink at my Dad's place (it was just south of Lindsay). He had a massive yard and the rink would be full of the neighbour's kids. My brother has always been like that. Now that he has his own place he makes rinks for his kids as well.
I don't think there are any rinks in my near future unless they are indoor. In Singapore outdoor ice rinks are called swimming pools.