Skating rinks and sled hills will open when weather permits
With a record-setting lack of snow in December, the Naperville Park District is waiting to open sled hills and outdoor skating areas until winter weather arrives and stays long enough to permit these activities. 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.
The Park District maintains winter skating rinks at four locations. The following 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 rink, located at Gartner Park at 524 Gartner Rd., is not lighted and closes at dusk.
Hockey play is allowed only at the two hockey rinks at Centennial Park. A third rink at Centennial Park is for free skating only. The rink at Nike Sports Complex permits broomball, with priority over open skating on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 10PM. Open skating has priority over broomball at all other times.
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 9PM and Friday and Saturday until 10PM.
- 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.
For current information regarding conditions at these locations, visit www.napervilleparks.org or call 630-848-5000.
