The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink at Millennium Park. (Millennium Park / Facebook)
Time to dig your ice skates out of storage, Chicagoans. The city’s outdoor rinks are now open for the season.
Locations at five Chicago Park District parks join the Ribbon at Maggie Daley Park and the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park, which both opened Nov. 17.
Admission is typically free for those who bring their own skates. Rentals are available, with prices ranging between $7 and $22 per person.
Tickets are required at Millennium Park and pre-registration is required by the Park District, so plan ahead.
Programs include skating lessons; stick and puck sessions for practicing hockey skills; and pond hockey and rat hockey, the latter an adults-only, more intense version of a typical pick-up game.
New this year are open skate time slots reserved solely for people aged 50 and older.
"Before the start of the season, we met with our staff to discuss program offerings at the ice rinks and the idea for a senior skate session was a unanimous suggestion," said Irene Tostado, Park District spokesperson.
"People of all ages like to go skating at the neighborhood outdoor ice rinks," she said. "Some older skaters can get intimidated on a crowded ice rink with youth and young adults circling the rink, ... so offering the 50+ skating session before open skate hours also made sense. We think this is a good way to keep skaters aged 50 years and older active in the ice rinks."
Below are rink locations. Click on links for more information:
— Maggie Daley Park, 337 E. Randolph St.
— McKinley Park, 2210 W. Pershing Road
— McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, 201 E. Randolph St.
— Midway Plaisance Park, 1130 Midway Plaisance North
— Mt. Greenwood Park, 3721 W. 111th St.
— Warren Park, 6601 N. Western Ave.
— Wentworth Park, 5625 S. Mobile Ave.
Read More: For more information on winter activities, events and light shows, check out WTTW News’ 2023 Chicago Holiday Events Guide.
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]
