 Youth in the Rec Plus program ice skate on Webber Natural Swimming Pool
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.
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Seal the Field Once the ground is frozen, staff seal the field drains with newspaper and clay.
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Build a Base The next step is to saturate the field with water, adding moisture to the ground to help establish the first layer of ice. No two rinks are alike; the amount of water to build the foundation varies based on field conditions. Some fields have low pockets that must be filled in more than fields that are flat.
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Flood the Field When temperatures are right, we flood the fields using sprinklers and fire hoses one inch at a time, twice daily, to build up the ice. Anything more or less than one inch of water at a time will create air pockets, and prevent smooth, solid ice from forming. The ideal temperature for this process is between zero and ten degrees. If it is too cold (-10 degrees or lower) the ice freezes too quickly and becomes brittle.
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Rink Maintenance Setbacks that may require additional flooding include:
- Snowfall: Snow needs to be removed because a blanket of snow insulates the rink and slows the freezing process.
- Warm Temperatures: Thawing softens the ice and sometimes the ground underneath. Thawing also breaks down the areas that cover low pockets creating weak spots.
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.
 Staff installs hockey rink board at North Commons Park
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.
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.
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