“Iceless” Ice Skating!

Every time you go out on the ice, there are slight flaws. You can always think of something you should have done better. These are the things you must work on.

These words were spoken by Dorothy Hamill a true American athlete. She is the 1976 Olympic champion in ladies’ singles and the 1976 World champion.

Ice skating is moving on ice by using ice skates. It can be done for a variety of reasons, including exercise, leisure, traveling, and various sports. Ice skating occurs both on specially prepared ice surfaces (arenas, tracks, parks), both indoors and outdoors, as well as on naturally occurring bodies of frozen water, such as ponds, lakes and rivers. Or does it?

Not if you are going to be in Marion County through mid-March. Because in Marion County you will find an “iceless” ice skating rink.

How is that possible you ask?
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This rink will be made of synthetic ice constructed by interlocking panels which is a solid polymer material designed for skating using regular ice skates. The very first skates were merely sharpened, flattened bone strapped to the bottom of the foot. Luckily this rink does use metal-bladed ice skates.

So here is how this will work. . .

The rink, located at Pavilion I across from the East Marion Park entrance, will be twice the size as last year’s rink set up at Palatine Park.

Hours of operation:
Monday – Wednesday Closed
Thursday – Friday 5 – 9 pm
Saturday 1 – 9 pm
Sunday 1 – 6 pm

However the rink will be closed December 24th, 25th and 31st and January 1st.

The rink will be free of charge with free skate rentals, hot chocolate and coffee through December (Merry Christmas from MCPARC).

Beginning January 2nd, the cost of admission is $1 (kids 17 and younger) and $2 for adults. Skate rental is $2.

There will be a concession stand with three main items – hot dogs, pepperoni rolls and pretzels. The concession will also offer drinks, popcorn and some candy. Oh and just as important – restroom facilities are available!

Although we can’t guarantee that you will skate like Dorothy Hamill, we can guarantee that you will have a great time skating this winter – no matter the weather!

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