The city has decided not to operate some ice rinks this year, including the one at Powderhorn Park. According to Park Board District 3 Commissioner Scott Vreeland, the reasons are budget and crap weather. Powderhorn residents are salty that the decision’s all but made already.

There’s a Park & Rec Commissioners meeting tomorrow that’s open to the public and the ice rinks are on the agenda.

Date: 12/5/2007
Time: 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Location: MPRB Administrative Offices, Board Room Suite 255
Address: 2117 West River Road

For reference, here’s the list of ice rinks in Minneapolis.

I can’t say I’m surprised. Money’s tight. It costs to operate and maintain an ice rink. If the weather’s a little warmer and a little more unpredictable like it has been the last few years, there are fewer good skating days in a year and the rink needs more maintenance.

Seems like Powderhorn is a pretty tight neighborhood, though. I would expect that someone would have had to observe a serious decline in use to select that particular ice rink to close. I can see how residents might be upset. As much over the decision as over the decision making process (or rather, being left out of it).

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