Wicker Park Is Getting A Brand New Ice Skating Rink
By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 17, 2015 4:28PM
Next month, there will be a new ice skating rink in Wicker Park—WickerICE opens Dec. 5.
The Wicker Park Advisory Council has been pushing to open a community-funded ice skating rink in the neighborhood, including holding fundraisers with the help of local businesses and Ald. Joe Moreno to fund the project.
The Wicker Park Insider's Guide is reporting that the community efforts will result in a 60-foot by 120-foot rink built directly east of the fountain in the park, located at 1425 N. Damen Ave., and admission will be free.
The rink won't be refrigerated, so its operation is dependent on the weather naturally freezing the water, but organizers said when conditions are right people will be able to skate between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. A full schedule will be posted soon, to help families and other skaters aware of open skating and opportunities to play hockey.
In a neighborhood that is often accused, sometimes rightly so, of aggressive gentrification, it's nice to see a project resulting from independent involvement meant to benefit the community at large and not just please a few yuppies or hipsters.
The project is going to be run by volunteers, so if you'd like to offer additional financial support, you can still contribute to the rink's GoFundMe page. Interested in becoming a volunteer yourself? Then send an email and let the organizers know you're interested.