Lace Up the Ice Skates for Some Great, Old-Fashioned Fun

What’s that you say?  The temperatures are dropping and you’re already peering outside your window, looking for the first signs of spring?  Not so fast.  True, winter means snow storms, bone-chilling winds, shoveling, icy roads, hazardous driving and a lot of other things we’d all rather forget.

But winter also brings opportunities for a wide array of great outdoor activities, including a traditional favorite—ice skating.  As you begin to think about enjoying some great outdoor fun this winter, Patch offers up the following directory of ponds and rinks to get you in the mood!

Slice of Ice in Red Arrow Park, Milwaukee
It's time to show the world: are you graceful and strong, like Oksana Baiul, or clumsy and knock-kneed, like an ox standing on two butter knives? Red Arrow Park's Slice of Ice is a refrigerated skating rink along Milwaukee's main downtown drag, Water Street, and is open through March if weather permits. Skating is free if you have your own equipment, but there is a marginal charge for renting skates. Slice of Ice is located at 920 N. Water St.
For more information: http://county.milwaukee.gov/RedArrow11930.htm

Pettit National Ice Center, Milwaukee
Just a stone’s throw from Wauwatosa at 500 S. 84th Street, the Pettit Center is an official U.S. Olympic trial and training facility with a 400-meter speed-skating oval and to full-size hockey rinks. It offers public skating at posted hours and also hosts hockey teams, figure skating, and skating lessons.  Each Tuesday (10 a.m.-11 a.m.) it's Senior Skate, a session just for those 55 and over! Please call for exact dates or any scheduling changes. For more information, visit: http://www.thepettit.com/schedulesskating/public-skating.htm

Wilson Ice Arena, Milwaukee 
Wilson Ice Arena is located just outside of Greenfield to the east at 4001 S. 20 Street. The Recreation Center building houses the indoor Ice Arena, where you can skate year-round. The 17,000 square-foot sheet of groomed ice is a standard NHL-sized rink, 200 by 85 feet. The Arena has seating for 2,000, team locker rooms with showers, a concession area, and rental figure skates in a full range of sizes. The ice arena is available for rent for tournaments, competitions and social or business outings. The adjacent lobby is well suited for catered events.
For more information http://county.milwaukee.gov/WilsonIceArena20635.htm

Greendale Ice Rink
Located in the Greendale Village Center near the Middle School, the rink was put together by residents in winter 2010-2011. The rink is maintained by the community and parking is available on the street and in the Municipal Lot and Greendale Middle School.

For more information and photos, visit these sites:

• https://sites.google.com/site/greendaleicerink/
• http://www.facebook.com/pages/Greendale-Ice-Rink/162765597077947

Henry Miller Park – Oak Creek
Located at 315 E. Groveland Drive, Henry Miller Park has a pond that freezes over in the winter and has been used for an ice skating rink. The park is right next to Oak Creek High School and is frequently used for picnics and other community events.

Veteran’s Memorial Park, Port Washington
When the weather gets cold, Veteran's Memorial Park along Lake Michigan in Port Washington is always busy! The lakefront location at 430 N Lake St  WI 53074 continues to offer a great place for people to head — with a pair of ice skates. A small rink is available during the winter months.

Lake Park, Milwaukee (Closed for 2012-13)
The ice skating area is located at 2975 N Lake Park Rd and it features public skating on weekdays 3-8pm and weekends 12:30-8pm. Ice Hockey is also available weekdays 8-10pm and weekends 8-10pm. For more information, call the Lake Park Friends Office at (414) 962-1680.

Ozaukee Ice Center, Mequon
If you think it's too cold outside to hit up an ice rink, head indoors with a pair of skates at the Ozaukee Ice Center in Mequon. The center is located at 5505 West Pioneer Road. Rentals cost $3 and admission is free for all Ozaukee County residents. Call (262) 375-1100 to learn more and find out about open skate times.
For more information, visit www.ozaukeeicecenter.org

Longacre Skating Pavilion, Fox Point
Longacre Pavilion is right next to Stormonth Elementary at 7343 N Longacre Rd. Skaters are invited to go inside the pavilion to warm up. The skating pavilion hosts games and events regularly, and is open to the public. Hours: Mon - Fri, 9am - 7pm; Sat, Sun, by appointment.  Free parking is available.

Cahill Square Park Ice Rink, Whitefish Bay
An old fire house was used to create the skating rink at Cahill Park, located at 4950 N Woodruff Avenue.  Once the weather provides a long stretch of frigid temperatures, several residents come together to create the ice. The project is the success of Debra Dryden and neighbor Lori Rojas, after they approached the Village Board and urged them to approve the yearly construction of the ice rink. Lots of free parking.

Armory Park, Sussex
Ice skate away your winter blues at the rink at Armory Park, W240N5765 Maple Avenue in Sussex. An ice skating/skateboarding rink offers seasonal opportunities for the daring. The rink is open daily, sunrise - 9:00 p.m.

Eble Park, Brookfield
This public indoor ice skating rink is located at 19400 W. Bluemound Rd. Operated by the Waukesha County Park District, this arena is open every day for public skating. Hockey games for youths, adults and local schools are also held here. The ice rink can be rented out for birthdays and other events as well.

Wauwatosa Curling Club Rink, Wauwatosa
The Wauwatosa Curling Club Rink is located in the Muellner Building at Hart Park, 7300 W. Chestnut Street. The rink has limited public skating hours because the Curling Club holds the lease to this indoor rink. But members graciously agree to open it up during the holidays, where the smooth ice and comfortable temperatures make for fine skating even in the worst (or warmest) winter weather. Hours are posted on the city website at http://wauwatosa.net/index.aspx?NID=920. Wauwatosa kids always skate free, non-residents pay $2. Adult residents, $2; non-residents $4. All Wauwatosa residents skate free Dec 26 through 30.

Jacobus Park Lagoon, Wauwatosa
Located at 6501 Hillside Lane, this outdoor skating venue is surrounded by woods and the picturesque Jacobus Park Pavilion, The lagoon can be an absolute jewel on a quiet winter evening when the weather is chilly but calm. On the other hand, it can be an adventure if squads of local kids gather for a hockey game. It's groomed sometimes by the Milwaukee County Parks staff and regularly by neighborhood volunteers. When the park is staffed during daylight hours, the warm-up room in the basement of the pavilion offers bathrooms and benches for changing into and out of skates.