Community Corner
Long Valley Skating Rink Still Closed Amid Mild Winter
Despite the winter holiday season being over, the Palmer Park ice rink is not open to skaters.
LONG VALLEY, NJ — It's no secret that winter temperatures in Long Valley have been mild this year, which means that the Palmer Park ice rink's official opening date has remained unknown.
Over the past year, the Garden State has been in the midst of a historic snow drought, according to forecasters. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that snow droughts will occur more frequently amid climate change.
The lack of cold temperatures has made it so that the Palmer Park outdoor ice skating rink has not been able to open this season. According to Darlene D. Hatcher, the Washington Township Recreation Director, the town is still "waiting on Mother Nature to cooperate."
Find out what's happening in Long Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The township DPW supervisor said that the ice is not quite thick enough to be safely open to the public.
Mayor Matt Murello told Patch last week that the ongoing warm weather and several inches of rain have set back the freezing progress of the rink.
Find out what's happening in Long Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A large winter storm is expected to reach New Jersey this week, according to forecasters, although officials warn that it is uncertain what type of precipitation the latest front will bring.
The storm is expected to arrive on Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Some mix of rain and snow will continue through the early part of Sunday, though it's too early to tell what that mix will look like.
Last year, warmer temperatures also accounted for most of the winter months, meaning that the Palmer Park 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.
Once the ice is completely frozen, the rink will be open from dawn to dusk for everyone to enjoy. The new rink will only be open for general ice skating, with no hockey allowed.
Residents are also asked to park only in the lower lot and access the rink via the dugout and fencing.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
