Naperville Sledding Hills, Rinks Closed Until Weather Colder

NAPERVILLE, IL — The Naperville Park District's sledding hills and ice rinks are a fun go-to destination in winter, but they have yet to open in 2020. The reason they've remained closed has nothing to do with the pandemic and everything to do with the weather, according to a recent news release from the park district.

The ice rinks typically open Dec. 15, but they are not refrigerated. Thus, they require three to five consecutive days of below freezing weather and overnight temperatures in the teens to function properly.

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The sledding hills and snowboard hill require a minimum of 2 inches of snow in order to open and so far snow has been in short supply this season.

“I understand that in the midst of the pandemic, residents are looking for increasingly more activities to enjoy outdoors,” Park District Executive Director Ray McGury said in the news release. “Although the District currently doesn’t have refrigerated ice, this is something we can explore for the future as the last few winters have provided less than favorable conditions for ice skating.”

The news comes as Naperville gears up for the possibility of up to five inches of snow Tuesday into Wednesday. A winter weather advisory is in effect from 10:59 a.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. Wednesday for DuPage County and through 6 a.m. Wednesday for eastern and southern Will County.

The Naperville Park District has the following sledding hills, which are typically open until dusk, when weather permits:

• Arrowhead Park, 711 Iroquois Ave.
• Brook Crossings, 1015 95th St.
• Country Lakes Park, 1835 North Aurora Rd.
• Gartner Park, 524 W Gartner Rd.
• May Watts Park, 804 S. Whispering Hills Dr.
• Wolf's Crossing Community Park, 3252 Wolf's Crossing Rd.

The Naperville Riverwalk also features a sledding hill that is open until 9 p.m. normally and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

The Naperville Park District features the following lighted ice rinks, which close at 10 p.m., when weather permits:

• Centennial Park, 500 W. Jackson Ave.
• Nike Sports Complex, 288 W. Diehl Rd.
• Wolf's Crossing Community Park, 3252 Wolf's Crossing Rd.

The following ice skating rinks are not lighted and close at dusk, when weather permits:

• Meadow Glens 1303 Muirhead Ave.
• Gartner Park 524 W. Gartner Rd.

A snowboarding hill is available at Weigand Riverfront Park, 2436 S. Washington St.

Naperville residents can click the link to check whether the ice rinks and sledding hills are open.