City Skating Rinks Closed for the Season

The skates have officially left the ice. With 40-degree temperatures hitting the Cities Sunday and Monday, the Golden Valley Park & Recreation Department has been forced to close all seven of its recreational ice skating rinks.

“You can’t maintain ice when the temperatures are in the 40s,” said Recreational Supervisor Brian Erickson.

Rinks at Lakeview, Wesley, Medley, Hampshire, Gearty, Scheid and Lions have all closed. Lake rinks remain open at your own risk.

The rinks were previously scheduled to close on Monday, February 21, like most years.  Erickson says this isn’t the first year they’ve had to close up shop early, but he says in recent years they have been able to stay open until President’s Day.

“It’s too wet,” said Erickson. “It needs to be substantially cold for ice to form, with temperatures like this, you can’t skate on it.”

He says he doesn’t expect the snow melt to affect any other outdoor recreation.