WICKER PARK — Volunteers have successfully installed "WickerICE," a community-funded skating rink in Wicker Park's namesake park. The rink is scheduled to open late next week, provided the ice is ready after five consecutive days of freezing temperatures.
This winter will mark the rink's second season of operation. See photos from the first season.
No admission fee will be charged to get into the rink, located at 1425 N. Damen Ave.
The Chicago Park District's field house will also be open during the hours of operation (9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily) as a warming space and for restrooms, but will be closed on holidays.
Watch Chicago firefighters fill the rink, which was built by vendor Iron Sleek.
Based on the weather predictions, the rink may be open for volunteers to try it out next week, according to Doug Wood, WickerICE managing coordinator.
"The snow may be a problem [this weekend], so we need to get people to sign up for emergency snow removal," Wood said.
Just south of the CTA Blue Line Damen stop, the 60-foot-wide by 120-foot-long non-refrigerated rink will be removed on March 1, according to the WickerICE website.
It can only open when the ice is frozen and when there are enough volunteers to staff the rink, Wood emphasized.
A schedule of activities such as free skating, hockey, family skating and kids-only sessions can be viewed on the rink's Facebook page, or its new website, wickerice.org.
There is no skate rental, so skaters need to bring their own skates.
All hockey players must read and sign rink rules and a waiver and bring their emailed confirmation of completion of both documents when they come to the rink to play.
What Skaters Need To Know For the 2016-2017 Skating Season:
Hockey Sign-up Waiver and Hockey Schedule.
Daily volunteer sign-up for the season.
Follow updates on the rink website and see if the amenity is open on its Facebook page.
