1n 2003/2004 Ice Rink SeasonCITYOF
CHANHASSEN
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, i ¥1i1~SS(~I Tlrj LiS
TO:
Todd Hoffman, Park and Recreation Dir
FROM:
DATE:
Jerry Ruegemer, Recreation Superintendent
October 15, 2003 0~
SUB J:
2003/2004 Ice Rink Season
The City of Chanhassen's outdoor finks will be open from approximately
December 13 through February 15, weather permitting. Flooding will begin the first
or second week in December, depending on the weather. The warming houses will
be open Monday through Friday, 4:00 - 9:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to
9:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Portable trailers will be placed at
North Lotus Park and City Center Park. Permanent warming houses are located at
the Chanhassen Recreation Center and the Roundhouse, now that the building has
been renovated.
After last winter's warm weather and poor skating conditions, our department
reassessed the outdoor fink policies and procedures. As you recall, only locations
with warming houses and hockey/pleasure finks were maintained. The decision was
made to concentrate on these main finks because traditionally, they have had the
highest number of users. Through this process, a rink flooding policy that
established guidelines was developed. The policy is as follows:
Ice Skating Policy Concerning Rink Flooding
The following departmental policy concerning fink flooding has been developed to
better guide our department in establishing calendar dates of when it is appropriate
or not appropriate to flood skating finks.
Opening Skating Date
Flooding Policy
December 20th or before
December 21st -- January l0th
January 11th or after
Flood all finks established for the
calendar year
Flood finks at Roundhouse Park, City
Center Park, Chanhassen Recreation
Center and North Lotus Lake Park or
(warming house locations only)
Cancel season
The Park and Recreation Commission reviewed the skating rink locations and
policies at length last season. It was the Commissioner's recommendation that alt
Todd Hoffman, Park and Recreation Director
12/2/2003
Page 2
the pleasure and hockey rinks be flooded and that attempts be made to gather
attendance numbers at the pleasure rinks that did not have warming house
attendants. The warm weather prohibited the non-warming house pleasure rinks to
be flooded, thus no attendance numbers were collected. Staff is in favor of flooding
all pleasure and hockey rinks for the 2003/04 season.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff is recommending that warming house locations be maintained at the
Chanhassen Recreation Center, City Center Park, Roundhouse Park, and North
Lotus Park for the upcoming season. Rinks proposed for these locations would
include two hockey rinks and one pleasure rink at the Chanhassen Recreation
Center; one hockey rink and one pleasure rink at City Center Park; one hockey rink
and one pleasure rink at North Lotus Park, and one pleasure rink at Roundhouse
Park. Staff also recommends that pleasure rinks at Minnewashta Heights, Pheasant
Hills, Carver Beach, Meadow Green, Rice Marsh, Sunset Park, and Chanhassen
Hills also be maintained. This totals fifteen rinks for the 2003/04 season. Staff also
recommends that the Park and Recreation Commission adopt the Skating Rink
Flooding Policy outlined in the memorandum.
STAFF UPDATE (11-7-03)
The 2003/3004 ice rink season was discussed at the October 28 Park and Recreation
Commission meeting. The Commission discussed the pros and cons of flooding
and maintaining the rinks identified in staff's recommendation. The commission
felt very strongly that the neighborhood rinks didn't have high participation numbers
and that only the rinks that have warming houses should be maintained. In addition,
the Commission recommended that a rink and warming house be added to
Bandimere Community Park for the 2004/2005 season to service residents in
southern Chanhassen.
Staff would like to discuss the Commission's recommendations with the City
Council during the work session on November 24, 2003.
STAFF UPDATE (12-1-03)
The 2003/04 ice rink season was discussed at the November 24th City Council work
session. The merit of flooding all the rinks as outlined by staff was discussed. The
Council agreed with the Park & Recreation Commission's recommendation to only
flood the rinks with warming house facilities. Approval of flooding the following
rinks with wanning houses is recommended: the Chanhassen Recreation Center,
City Center Park, North Lotus Lake Park, and Roundhouse Park.
G:\parkXrinksX2003-04 Ice Rink Season Mcmo