Are you tired of feeling cooped up in the house this winter? Valparaiso’s Tower Park ice skating rink may do the trick! The rink opened this past weekend and will be in operation as long as the cold weather stays.
Dan McGuire of the Recreation Superintendent at the Valparaiso Department of Parks and Recreation says, “It’s a great size rink. Our ice is probably the best around because our maintenance guys do an excellent job keeping it maintained. There will be a smooth surface everyday.”
Maintaining the ice in unpredictable weather is the most challenging aspect of keeping the rink open. There need to be several days in a row of single to negative temperatures for the ice to properly form.
At night, maintenance workers from the Parks Department will use a fire hose to coat the tennis courts of Tower Park. After several layers of ice are set, the smooth surface is ready for use. Free skating takes place at the park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. After 5 p.m., games of pick-up hockey are organized.
“We get about 20 to 30 people out there,” says McGuire. “And we provide goals to the players which not all rinks do.”
The Parks Department expects the rink to be open for a few weeks. If you’re looking for a new winter activity or some time out of the house, don’t miss out!
