Coon Rapids Outdoor Ice Rinks Face Weather-Related Closures as Warm Temperatures Persist

City of Coon Rapids officials announced the temporary closure of warming houses at the city’s outdoor ice skating facilities following a stretch of unseasonably warm temperatures and rainfall that have compromised ice quality across multiple neighborhood rinks.

According to the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, warming houses will be closed on Friday, Dec. 26, and Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, after crews observed standing water on rink surfaces. City staff will reassess ice conditions on Sunday, Dec. 28, and residents are encouraged to monitor official updates through the City website and social media channels.

Weather Conditions Disrupt Early Ice Season

The outdoor skating season in Coon Rapids typically begins in mid December, and the city officially opened its rinks for the 2025 season on Dec. 19. However, recent rainfall combined with above freezing temperatures has created unsafe skating conditions and halted routine maintenance operations.

When standing water forms on the ice, maintenance crews are unable to resurface rinks without risking long-term damage to the ice base. Flooding the rinks under these conditions can trap water beneath the surface, leading to uneven ice and prolonged closures later in the season.

City officials emphasized that while outdoor rinks remain physically accessible during normal park hours, the closure of warming houses reflects the City’s assessment that ice conditions do not currently meet safety and quality standards for supervised operations.

Outdoor Ice Rink System and Affected Locations

Coon Rapids maintains one of the more extensive municipal outdoor skating systems in the north metro, consisting of nine outdoor rinks. These include five regulation size hockey rinks and four open pleasure skating rinks, distributed across several neighborhood parks.

Primary locations affected by the current weather conditions include:

• Riverview Park, 2420 105th Ave. NW
• Sand Creek Park, 1008 Northdale Blvd. NW
• Thorpe Park, 2691 Carlson Dr. NW
• Wintercrest Park, 10300 Woodcrest Dr. NW

Refrigerated Rink Offers Partial Weather Resilience

City officials noted an important distinction for skaters seeking alternatives. The outdoor rink at the Coon Rapids Ice Center, located at 11000 Crooked Lake Blvd. NW, is refrigerated, allowing it to maintain more stable ice during brief warm spells.

Even so, staff cautioned that the refrigerated rink is not immune to closure during heavy rainfall or sustained warm conditions, which can strain the refrigeration system and degrade surface quality. Indoor rinks at the Ice Center remain open for scheduled public skating and hockey programs.

Safety and Operations Standards

Coon Rapids follows established weather-based guidelines to determine when outdoor skating facilities must close. Warming houses and rink operations are suspended when standing water is present or when temperatures are high enough that skating would create deep ruts in the ice that cannot be repaired.

Conversely, warming houses may also close during extreme cold. City policy calls for closures when air temperatures reach minus five degrees Fahrenheit or when wind chills drop to minus twenty degrees, prioritizing the safety of both staff and the public.

Once colder weather returns, parks crews resume a recovery process that includes shaving rough surfaces, sweeping debris, and flooding rinks in thin layers to rebuild ice depth and smoothness.

What Residents Should Expect Next

City staff will evaluate rink conditions on Sunday, Dec. 28, with overnight temperatures playing a critical role in determining whether maintenance can resume. If conditions improve, crews may begin restoring ice surfaces as early as Sunday morning.

Under normal winter conditions, warming houses operate Monday through Friday from 5 to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 1 to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 1 to 6 p.m. These hours remain subject to weather and ice quality throughout the season.

For real time updates, rink locations, and operating schedules, residents are advised to consult the City’s official Ice Skating information page and the City of Coon Rapids Facebook page, where status changes are posted promptly.

As winter weather patterns continue to fluctuate, city officials reminded residents that outdoor ice skating is inherently weather dependent and encouraged patience as crews work to preserve rink quality for the remainder of the season.

MinneapoliMedia