Ice Skating Rink In Long Valley To Reopen For The Season Soon

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Sharpen your skates and grab your coats; Palmer Park's outdoor ice skating rink is getting ready to open.

New Jersey got a small taste of winter weather last week after a storm swept over the region. While the majority of the state received a few inches of rain, a surge of cold air arrived at the tail end of the storm, changing the rain into snowfall in northwest New Jersey.

However, the temperatures have not yet been cold enough to permanently freeze the skating area. Last year, warmer temperatures accounted for most of the winter months, meaning that the rink was only able to be used a handful of times, according to township officials.

When the ice is fully frozen, the municipality will put the "Skating Rink Closed/Open Sign" in Palmer's driveway, indicating that the rink is open to the public.

Palmer Park, which is located on Bartley Road and Palmer Place in Long Valley, is currently home to three softball fields, one Babe Ruth field, four little league fields, and three all-purpose fields, along with a walking trail and a community garden.

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.

Once the ice is completely frozen, the rink will be open from dawn to dusk for everyone to enjoy.

The rink will only be open for general ice skating, with no hockey allowed, officials said.

Residents are also asked to park only in the lower lot and access the rink via the dugout and fencing.

"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," Washington Township Mayor Matt Murello said on Facebook.

Here is the upcoming forecast for Long Valley:

• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
• Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Calm wind.
• Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
• Saturday Night: A chance of showers, mainly after 1 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 33. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
• Sunday: A slight chance of showers before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
• Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.
• Christmas Day: Partly sunny, with a high near 49.