City of Evanston Blog
Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks Firming Up
Maybe it is just me, but it seems that these rinks are a well kept secret. See info below:
Due to the early cold snap, residents are already taking advantage of the ice-skating rinks at Evanston parks. As weather permits this winter, skating rinks will be created at three parks:
Ackerman Park, Central St. at McDaniel;
Dawes Park Lagoon, Sheridan Rd. at Church St.;
and Baker Park, Forest Ave. at Keeney St. .
Please be aware that there are no attendants on duty to supervise rinks and shelter houses will not be open. Skating conditions vary throughout the season, based on air temperature, sunshine levels and snowfall. The Dawes Park Lagoon has good quality ice most frequently, as it is not created on turf.
What does it take to make ice that's ready for skating? It takes three consecutive days of temperatures 15 degrees or lower to have sufficient frost penetration of the ground. It then takes at least six days of applying water to have ice thick enough to skate upon, and a warm spell and significant snowfall will disrupt the ice-making process.
Traditionally, the latest time that skating takes place is in mid-February. For a recorded message regarding outdoor ice rink conditions, please call 847/859-7822, ext. 8.
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2 Comments
Dawes lagoon is not flooded, there is no skatable surface there. There are some patches of ice there as thick (and about as long) as the puddle at the end of my driveway. I can't skate on that either. Attempting to skate here is a disaster waiting to happen. JUST PUT SOME MORE WATER IN IT!
January 10, 2011 4:20 PM
We went skating at the Dawes Lagoon last Wednesday before it had gotten warm and the ice was VERY thin, with ground peeking out at the north and east ends. Are you putting more water on soon?
January 3, 2011 9:34 AM