Ice hockey is a beloved pastime in Minnesota, but this winter, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation may permanently shutter five outdoor ice rinks.
According to CBS News, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation spent $750,000 on the outdoor skating season last winter, but the season only lasted eight days before temperatures warmed up too much to keep the rinks frozen. It was the warmest winter ever recorded for the Twin Cities.
In previous years, the outdoor rinks have opened in mid-December and remained active through Presidents Day in February.
In a budget proposal, the city cited “uncertain climate fluctuations” as a main factor in closing the rinks. The closed rinks would include Lyndale Farmstead, Powderhorn, Webber, Windom and Matthews.
Thankfully for hockey lovers in Minneapolis, these five parks make up only a portion of the city’s 21 total ice rinks. There are no plans to close the remaining 16 rinks at this time, but residents should watch the weather this winter closely to see whether or not the rinks will be open.
“You lose those community rinks, you really lose that opportunity for kids to pick up the game of hockey. It’s unfortunate, hockey is already a very expensive sport. In its past it has been a very accessible sport. All you needed was a pair of skates and a neighborhood rink,” said local resident, Matt Kuzelka.
