WICKER PARK — Weather and finances permitting, a community-funded and volunteer-maintained ice skating rink will be constructed on Nov. 28 in a sort of old-fashioned barn raising effort and then be ready for use the following weekend.
Following a close-to-successful GoFundMe campaign, where 132 donors raised a collective $25,800 toward a $30,000 goal, organizers behind the rink hope to raise more money at Ald. Joe Moreno's "1st Ward Thursdays" event on Thursday and at a family-friendly gathering on Saturday.
The first fundraiser is set for 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Debonair Social Club, 1575 N. Milwaukee Ave. The second benefit will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Emporium Arcade Bar, 1366 N. Milwaukee Ave.
According to a flier, tickets to the 1st Ward Thursday event will cost a suggested donation of $15 and include two drinks and Santullo's pizza, with proceeds going to the rink. Tickets to Saturday's party are $35 for adults (food plus four drinks) and $10 for children (food and drinks).
There's 2 fundraisers this week to support #wickerpark ice rink pic.twitter.com/l4E4glUlst
— Alisa Hauser (@DNA_WPB) November 3, 2015Beanie hats and stickers featuring the rink's logo will be for sale at both events. The hats are $20; the sticker logos are $10.
Volunteers are planning to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the park field house, 1425 N. Damen Ave., and are continuing to raise cash, explained Doug Wood, secretary of the Wicker Park Advisory Council and coordinator of the newly-formed WickerICE Committee.
"Our original decision last August was to raise $60,000 to cover first-year expenses beyond the cost of the rink and equipment. We lowered the amount, since it seemed unattainable to most and decided the lower amount should cover the rink's first year if we have enough volunteers. The extra costs would cover work that volunteers will do if they can't get the work done and if there are large snow storms," Wood said in an email.
At Tuesday's meeting, volunteers will discuss the project's budget-to-date, rink hours of operation, lighting and maintenance and schedules for open skating and hockey, among other agenda items.
The approximately 120-foot-long by 60-foot-wide non-refrigerated rink (NHL rinks are 200-feet by 85-feet) would be open for recreational skating and hockey — weather permitting — from late November through early March in Wicker Park's namesake park.
Map of park and proposed rink location. [Provided]
Outside of a smattering of private ice rinks, currently there are just eight outdoor rinks in Chicago Park District parks.
The park is just south of the CTA Blue Line Damen stop and a few blocks from Bucktown's Churchill Park, an entry point to the elevated Bloomingdale Trail. Wicker Park currently has a softball field, basketball courts, playground and a dog area.
John Lynch, a Wicker Park resident who lives along the park with his family, donated $1,000, an amount that he says is "hopefully indicative of how much we want it."
"We would use the rink with our kids — especially given the lack of local outdoor winter activities with Chicago's climate and topography. We also think it would put a positive spotlight on why this is one of the best neighborhoods in the city and be just one more reason that families should consider raising their kids here," Lynch said.
For more information on the Wicker Park Advisory Council and the rink, visit the group's website or email Wood to get involved.
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