Libertyville's New Outdoor Hockey Rink Is A Hit

Local hockey enthusiasts have a new place to play. And those who love the sport say the outdoor ice hockey rink is a welcome addition to Libertyville. The rink officially opened earlier this month along Route 45 outside the Libertyville Sports Complex.

Libertyville used to have a rink used for ice hockey during the winter and roller hockey during the summer. But in 2015, that rink was closed after Bolander Park was sold to a developer, according to the Libertyville Review.

The Libertyville Review reports:

Libertyville's Parks and Recreation Committee spent more than a year reviewing sites at Butler Lake Park and Adler Park before choosing a grassy area next to a softball field along Route 45 outside the Libertyville Sports Complex.

Area ice hockey enthusiasts say the village's rink far surpasses the quality of other rinks in area towns.

“It’s got full boards, a chain link fence above, and nets all the way up top,” Maliszewski told the Libertyville Review. “The ice surface is the most important thing, and because they take care of it and they seem to care about it that makes it worth coming to because the quality of the ice surface matters a lot to hockey players.”

“There are always people here, and for the most part everybody is really cool,” Maliszewski said. “It’s real easy to start a pickup game.”

The ice rink is open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., according to the village of Libertyville website. Hours are subject to change due to weather or ice conditions. The phone hotline for skating conditions is 847-247-5433.

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