Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board: Update On Ice Rinks And Warming Rooms In Minneapolis Parks This Winter

Press release from the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board:

December 15, 2021

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is working hard to open outdoor ice rinks for the winter. This season there are 47 skating, hockey, pond hockey, and broomball rinks planned across 23 parks. Warming rooms will be open with free loaner skates; masks are required inside all MPRB buildings. See below for hours and locations.

So far staff have been watering in the mornings until the temperature rises above freezing. If the forecasted rain arrives Wednesday night, rinks will be left alone Thursday and potentially Friday to let them freeze, then morning watering will resume over the weekend. If the forecasted below-freezing temps next week hold, staff will begin watering morning and evening shifts starting Monday, Dec. 20, with the goal of having rinks fully open by early January.

Visit minneapolisparks.org/rinks for more information and an interactive map updated daily with rink statuses.

Building Ice

Establishing and maintaining an ice rink is largely affected by the condition of the ground or lake underneath, daily temperatures and precipitation. It takes a minimum of ten consecutive days of below freezing temperatures during the day and night for ice to establish properly.

Lake Ice

Lake ice is never deemed totally safe as water movement, fish movement, etc., can erode ice from underneath and thin spots can emerge near an area of good thick ice. Staff are constantly checking ice on lake rinks. Please be alert for “Thin Ice” warning signs posted on lakes and stay away from those areas.

Ice Rink Locations

Use the Ice Rink Status Map to check rink locations and whether they are open or closed. The map is updated daily throughout the winter. The ice rink flyer lists each rink location and warming house hours. Every rink location listed has a warming house.

Ice Rink Status Map

Ice Rink Flyer

Warming Room Regular Hours

Monday-Friday: 5-9 pm

Saturdays and School Release Days: Noon-9 pm

(School Release Days are December 20–23, 27–30; January 17, 28; February 21, 22)

Sundays: 1-5 pm

Warming Room Holiday Hours

December 24, 31: Noon-4 pm

December 25: Closed
January 1: Noon-9 pm*
*Only at North Commons, Lake of the Isles, Sibley, and Van Cleve (all other warming rooms closed Jan. 1)

Rink Light Hours

All locations: 4:30-9 pm*
*Lights are left on until 10:15 pm for broomball rinks at Bryn Mawr, Logan, McRae, Van Cleve and Windom NE.

This press release was produced by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board. The views expressed here are the author’s own.