MOUNT GREENWOOD — The opening of the outdoor ice rink at Mount Greenwood Park has been further delayed by repairs, according to a spokeswoman for the Chicago Park District.
The rink at 3724 W. 111th St. was supposed to open on Friday, Nov. 27 — along with eight similar facilities operated by the park district, according to Jessica Maxey-Faulkner.
However the rink, officially known as the Chicago Blackhawks Ice Rink at Mount Greenwood Park, remained just a cold slab of concrete on Friday.
"The Mount Greenwood ice rink repairs are more extensive than originally thought. The Chicago Park District is working to get the rink opened as quickly as possible," said Faulkner on Friday.
The spokeswoman said at the beginning of the week that the opening was delayed by repairs but promised the rink would open by the weekend. The unseasonably warm temperatures were ruled out as a reason for the hold up.
Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th) said that a park district official told him on Friday that $25,000 has already been spent to ready the aging rink on the Far Southwest Side. The official said there was concern that project could become a money pit.
O'Shea said on Nov. 17 that the rink would remain in operation so long as neighborhood residents continue to use the facility as in years past. The rink has historically been one of the park district's most-used outdoor rinks, he said.
"I've got a commitment from the park district to keep it going," O'Shea said on Friday afternoon.
The outdoor rink had been rumored to be closing after the debut of the Morgan Park Sports Center. The indoor ice arena and gymnastics facility at 11505 S. Western Avenue opened Sept. 1 — just 2.2 miles away from the outdoor facility in Mount Greenwood.
O'Shea was concerned but remained positive after hearing the news of the setback at the ice rink.
"We've had delays other years," he said.
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