Outdoor Ice Rinks Now Open In Downers Grove

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Temperatures have recently plunged into the single digits, but all that frigid weather has a silver lining: outdoor ice skating rinks have opened up in Downers Grove. As of Jan.6, the outdoor rinks at McCullom Park and Doerhoefer Park are open to ice skaters.

The rinks usually open after several days of temperatures that are in the single digits or low teens. When the ice rinks are open, skating hours are 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day. Ice skating at the parks is not supervised, but the Downers Grove Park District offers the following tips about ice skating conditions:

• Eight inches of ice is required for the ice skating rinks to open
• Check the flags posted at each rink location; they will indicate whether the ice is open for skaters
• Green flags indicate that the ice rink is safe for skating where spots have been cleared
• Red flags indicate the ice rink is closed because conditions are not safe for ice skating
• Visitors are urged to call 911 in case of an emergency

McCullom Park is located at 6801 S. Main St., with its ice rink located on the tennis courts that are in the park's northwest corner. Skaters should park in the north lot near Miner Mike's Adventure Golf.

Doerhoefer Park is located just north of Ogden Avenue on Venard Road, with the ice rink on the tennis courts in the park's northwest corner. Skaters are advised to park in the Venard Road parking lot.