Two new portable ice rinks are providing more reliable skating opportunities in Woodridge.
In prior years, ice skating only took place on Lake Carlton and Lake Harriet, but the two retention ponds near Center Drive and Woodridge Drive were often closed because the ice was not thick enough to be considered safe.
“On the lakes, it needs to be at least six inches thick,” said Mike Adams, Woodridge Park District executive director. “The storm water and salt that flows into them often make them hard to freeze.”
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Adams said the new portable ice rinks at Orchard Hill Park near Janes Avenue and Sheffield Lane have been open 85 percent of the time this season. Most winters, excluding last year’s frigid temperatures, ice skating on the lakes was possible on fewer than five days per year on average, he said.
Skating still is offered on the lakes this year, but Adams said they haven’t been open so far due to snow cover and warmer weather. In contrast, the two portable ice rinks offer general skating and ice hockey opportunities.
Park maintenance staff monitors the ice conditions of the portable rinks every morning and also uses a system that sprays hot water to smoothe out the ice.
“They are very popular,” Adams said. “Kids often go to the rinks after school and they are full of people on the weekends.” The rinks at Orchard Hill Park are open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. but checking the park district website at woodridgeparks.org is advisable to see if they are open or closed due to weather conditions.
Westmont has offered two portable rinks at Veterans Memorial Park, 55 E. Richmond Ave. for about seven years. Park District Director Ron Gunter said they opened a little later this year due to warmer weather in December.
“People have come to expect them,” Gunter said. “Hockey and skating is very popular these days.”
Ice conditions and rink status can be found on the district’s website at westmontparks.org.
Ice conditions in nearby Darien are always perfect for skating on three rinks inside the Darien Sportsplex, 451 Plainfield Road It’s been open since 1996.
Darien Park District officials said the most popular time for ice skating is in the summer when the kids are out of school. The indoor rinks host hockey clubs, figure skating clubs and open skating.