WICKER PARK — It's been days since a community-funded and Chicago Fire Dept-filled rink has been built and the last ingredient for the amenity to become a reality is freezing temperatures for four straight days, which for better or worse has not happened yet.
"The opening day will be scheduled after the daytime temps are no higher than 30 degrees and the night time temps are in the 20s," wrote Doug Wood, secretary of the Wicker Park Advisory Council and coordinator of the Wicker-ICE Committee.
For this week and next week, there are only two consecutive days — Thursday and Friday — when the weather will dip below 32 degrees, according to a 10-day forecast.
Christmas Day could see temperatures hitting the mid-50s, and the only days with consecutive freezing temperatures appear to be Dec. 29- Jan. 2, Accuweather.com forecasts.
Designed by Culliton Quinn Landscape Architecture, the 60-foot-by-120-foot rink has been enclosed with a fence since being constructed by volunteers on Dec. 5.
An opening date and other information will be posted on the WickerICE Facebook page after the group holds a meeting, planned for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday in the park field house, 1425 N. Damen Ave.
Monday's meeting agenda includes discussing rules of the rink, hours for various skating types (hockey, free skate, etc.), timetables for buying equipment, volunteer time tables and training, updates and plans for opening day, Wood said.
Marcus Faletti, a park regular, says he does not know when the water will freeze, either.
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