City of Ames recently issued the following announcement.
Ames Parks and Recreation staff have opened the two outdoor skating rinks located in South River Valley Park. Staff flooded the rinks last week which are now ready for skaters.
In addition to year-round ice skating at the Ames/ISU Ice Arena, the Parks and Recreation Department creates two outdoor ice skating rinks at South River Valley Park, 1200 E. 13th St., when the temperatures can sustain ice.
“The opening of the outdoor rinks is always weather-dependent, and the unusually warm December made it difficult to predict the best time to make the ice. The recent pattern of below-freezing temperatures suggests the cold weather will be here awhile,” said Parks & Facilities Superintendent Joshua Thompson.
One rink is reserved for playing hockey, and the other is for skating. Skaters should bring their own equipment. The rinks will be open if weather permits, and the ice remains frozen. Signs at the rinks let skaters know if the rinks are open. Both rinks feature plastic liners. If the ice gets too soft, skate blades can puncture the liners and ruin them, so skaters must pay attention to the signs. Staff will update the open/closed status of the rinks on the Parks and Recreation website and Facebook page.
The ice rinks are in the green space north of diamond No. 5, and there is parking available. There is no fee to use either ice rink.
The Parks and Recreation Department manages 38 parks and offers approximately 180 athletic, aquatic, instructional, and wellness programs. Indoor programs are provided throughout the winter at the Community Center, Ames/ISU Ice Arena, and Municipal Pool. For more information, go to the Parks and Recreation homepage at www.amesparkrec.org or call the Community Center at 515.239.5350.
Original source can be found here.
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