Cold Snap Restores Winter Rhythm As Coon Rapids Reopens Outdoor Ice Rinks And Warming Houses

COON RAPIDS, Minn.

After an unseasonably warm start to January that softened ice surfaces and left standing water across neighborhood parks, colder temperatures have allowed the City of Coon Rapids to reopen its outdoor ice rinks and warming houses, restoring one of the city’s most familiar winter traditions.

City officials say sustained subfreezing weather this week made it possible for parks crews to safely resume full operations after a temporary shutdown earlier this month. The pause, which began January 7, was intended to protect the ice base during a thaw that pushed temperatures near 40 degrees. Skating on soft ice, officials explained, creates deep ruts that can freeze into permanent tripping hazards and cause long term damage that is difficult to repair once cold returns.

By January 15, city staff confirmed conditions had stabilized enough to reopen rinks citywide.

Daily maintenance built around safety and weather

Coon Rapids Parks staff follow a disciplined daily maintenance routine designed to keep skating surfaces safe and playable throughout the season. Crews shave the ice to level uneven areas, sweep away debris, remove snow, and flood rinks with thin layers of water when temperatures allow. Flooding rebuilds ice depth gradually, a process that depends heavily on sustained cold.

Snowfall presents particular challenges, city officials note, because snow insulates the ice surface and slows freezing underneath. During warm spells or heavy snow events, maintenance equipment cannot be used without risking damage to the ice base.

For the safety of both staff and skaters, warming houses and rink operations are suspended when air temperatures reach minus five degrees or when wind chills drop to minus twenty.

Warming house hours and seasonal window

Warming houses are staffed and open on a consistent schedule during the core outdoor skating season, which typically runs from mid December through mid February, weather permitting.

Monday through Friday, warming houses operate from 5 to 9 p.m. On Saturdays and school release days, hours extend from 1 to 9 p.m. Sundays run from 1 to 6 p.m. All warming houses are closed on city observed holidays.

While warming houses have limited hours, the outdoor rinks themselves are generally accessible during normal park hours, from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Where to skate in Coon Rapids

The city maintains nine outdoor skating surfaces across five primary park locations, offering both regulation hockey rinks and open pleasure skating areas:

• Riverview Park, 2420 105th Avenue NW
• Sand Creek Park, 1008 Northdale Boulevard NW
• Thorpe Park, 2691 Carlson Drive NW
• Wintercrest Park, 10300 Woodcrest Drive NW
• Coon Rapids Ice Center, 11000 Crooked Lake Boulevard

A notable exception within the system is the Coon Rapids Ice Center, which features a mechanically refrigerated outdoor rink. Unlike neighborhood rinks that rely entirely on natural freezing, this surface can often remain open during minor warm spells, providing a more reliable option during fluctuating winter weather.

Staying informed as conditions change

City officials encourage residents to monitor real time updates through the city’s official ice skating webpage and social media channels, where closures and reopenings are posted quickly during sudden thaws or extreme cold.

For many families, the reopening signals more than recreational access. It marks the return of a shared winter rhythm, one dependent on weather, patience, and careful stewardship of public space. As long as the cold holds, Coon Rapids’ rinks once again belong to skates, sticks, and the steady scrape of steel on ice.

MinneapoliMedia