skating rinks on Jan. 3. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
The Homewood-Flossmoor Park District is using a new technology to provide outdoor skating opportunities at Flossmoor Park.
The park district believes the new system will save time and offer better opportunities for residents to get out and enjoy the skating rinks.
The new system uses strong plastic forms that act as rinks "and will hold the water longer. We don't have to wait for the frost to settle in, just need cold temperatures to freeze what is in the system," said Doug Boehm, superintendent of parks and planning.
beside the new skating rinks
in Flossmoor Park let skaters
know whether the ice is
sufficiently formed for use.
(Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
The 120-foot by 88-foot rink is for ice hockey and the 76-foot by 88-foot rink is for figure skating.
Under the old system, park district employees had to wait "until the ground was frozen and frost had set in. Then we began spraying around the clock to establish the ice," explained Doug Boehm, superintendent of parks and planning.
Residents can check social media or the park district's website at hfparks.com for updates on when the ice is ready for skating.
"It's been a mild winter, for sure. We will also have signs out there (in the park) stating it's okay to skate," Boehm said.