Ice Skating Rink Coming To Palmer Park In Long Valley

LONG VALLEY, NJ — It's official: Plamer Park will once again be getting a temporary ice rink this winter, according to Washington Township Mayor Matt Murello.

Due to the high cost of lining the old Harrington Park rink, the Washington Township Committee and mayor examined the prospect of establishing an ice rink at Palmer Park last summer.

The concept was debated at multiple work session meetings before deciding to open a rink at Palmer Park for the first time last winter.

"Again this year, the DPW prepared a skating area on the infield of Palmer Park baseball field. The skating area is all prepped and ready for the cold temps to freeze the surface," Murello shared on social media.

The rink, which is located on Bartley Road and Palmer Place in Long Valley, still needs more freezing time, so residents are asked to stay away from it until the town says it's safe to use.

The new rink has been installed on the infield of one of Palmer Park's baseball fields. Last year, township officials clarified that no fields were dug up or damaged in any way to create the rink, which was a source of concern for some residents, and the township intends to keep it that way.

The rink will only be for general ice skating, with no hockey allowed on the ice. Residents are also being asked to park only in the lower lot and enter the rink through the dugout and fencing.

The town will post the "Skating Rink Closed/Open Sign" in the driveway to Palmer Park for all to see.

"The DPW will do their best to clear the surface after snow and plow the lower lot, but the park area is a lower priority so don't call and ask after a snowstorm when it will be done. So let's all take care of the area, have fun, skate safely and maybe we can get more than a handful of skating days in this year," Murello said.