Above / When the temperature dips into the teens, skating rinks for hockey and recreation are attractive in Centennial Park adjacent to the Riverwalk, just off Jackson Avenue west of downtown Naperville. Glorious sunshine on New Year’s Day 2017 created the perfect setting to practice hockey shots.
UPDATED, Jan. 24, 2019 / A stretch of cold weather provided the conditions needed for Naperville Park District to open its outdoor skating areas at Centennial Park and Nike Sports Complex on Thursday, Jan. 24.
The Naperville Park District reports other skating areas are expected to be open for the weekend of Jan. 26-27, weather permitting. Residents may check the status and location of Park District outdoor skating areas at www.napervilleparks.org/
As a reminder to residents, during times of extreme cold, Naperville Park District facilities are available as warming shelters during their hours of operation, including Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center, 95th Street Center and Fort Hill Activity Center.
Editor’s note: Bundle up! Bundle up! Bundle up!
No matter how much snow falls, sledders discover Rotary Hill across Aurora Avenue from Naperville Central High School. Nonetheless, the Naperville Park District recommends at least two inches of snow for safety and to protect the grass on the hills. (PN File Photo)
Original Post, 2017 / Every year, the Naperville Park District staff prepares the Naperville Park District’s sled hills and skating areas to open for the winter outdoor recreation season when weather conditions allow.
Skating areas typically open on or after December 15; however, they can open only after a period of extreme cold. Likewise, sled hills require a minimum amount of snow in order to open. Weather and conditions permitting, the skating season continues through February 15 and the sledding season runs through February 28.
Five Skating Rinks
The Park District maintains winter skating rinks at five locations.
The following three ice rinks will be lighted and open until 10PM:
- Centennial Park, 500 W. Jackson Ave.
- Nike Sports Complex, 288 W. Diehl Rd.
- Commissioners Park, 3704 111th St.
The fourth and fifth rinks, located at Gartner Park at 524 Gartner Road and at Meadow Glens, located at 1303 Muirhead Ave., are not lighted and close at dusk.
Hockey and broomball play is allowed only at the two boarded rinks at Centennial Park. A third rink at Centennial Park is for free skating only. No pucks or sticks are allowed on free-skating areas.
Rainout Line will provide updates on skating and winter weather cancellations.
Above / After a snowfall, Rotary Hill turns into sled hill along the Riverwalk. (PN File Photo)
Six Sled Hills
Sled Hills are open when the ground is frozen with 2 or more inches of snow and when there is no visible grass. Please note that wooden sleds, metal-runner sleds, skis, toboggans or snowboards are not allowed on Naperville Park District sled hills.
The District offers one location exclusively for snowboarding: Weigand Riverfront Park at 2436 S. Washington St (no sleds are allowed on this hill).
The following sled hills are located in community parks or neighborhood parks. They have no concessions and close one hour after sunset, except Rotary Hill, which is lighted and open weekdays until 9:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 10:00 p.m.
- 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.
- Riverwalk Sled Hill at Rotary Hill, 441 Aurora Ave.
To check the status of skating, sledding and snowboarding areas, residents may access the District’s Rainout Line in five different ways:
- Call the Rainout Line number at (630) 883-4242
- Visit www.napervilleparks.org/cancellations or go to our website and click on the Weather Cancellations & Closures tab
- Opt in to receive email updates
- Opt in to receive text updates
- Download the free smart phone app
The Naperville Park District’s sled hills and snowboarding hill are open whenever snow is at least two inches deep with no visible grass. Additional details are available via a link on the Weather Cancellations page atwww.napervilleparks.org/cancellations.
When do park district programs get canceled?
If either Naperville Community Unit School District 203 or Indian Prairie School District 204 is closed due to winter weather, Naperville Park District programs scheduled prior to 3PM will be canceled. For programs occurring after 3PM, please check http://www.napervilleparks.org/cancellations after 2PM for updated information.