Anyone visiting Klyde Warren Park over the the weekend -- and judging by the crowd at 10 a.m. on Sunday, attendance bordered on nonexistent -- would have been struck by how closely the unbroken white sheet resembled an ice rink. Ironic, given park officials' promise of an actual ice rink, which increasingly seemed like it would go unfulfilled.
The skating rink was initially scheduled to debut early last month, but as the promised opening neared, park officials pushed the date back indefinitely, hedging and equivocating with the agility of a politician who's broken a promise but doesn't want to admit it.
Turns out, our skepticism was unwarranted. Officials announced this morning that the 32-by-100-foot rink, which will be made of a synthetic ice called Super-Glide, will open on the Great Lawn on Friday.
See also: Sounds Like Klyde Warren Park Won't Be Getting an Ice Rink After All
"They were just trying to go through all their options," park spokeswoman Samantha Kurz said of the delay. "They were just trying to consider all the details to see what worked."
The rink is being funded by former Stars owner Norman Green. Skate rentals, $5 during the week and $10 on weekends, will be free on opening day and on every Tuesday through January 31, when the rink closes.
Work crews are beginning installation today, just in time to take advantage of everyone's complete disenchantment with frozen water.
Send your story tips to the author, Eric Nicholson.
