BENTONVILLE -- Warm winter weather may keep The Rink at Lawrence Plaza out of operation for what is historically its busiest two weeks of the season.
About 40 percent of the rink's activity comes during the two weeks students are out of school for winter break, said David Wright, Parks and Recreation director. There are typically about 3,000 people who ice skate each week, or 6,000 total, during the vacation.
Getting There
The Rink is at the corner of Northeast A and Blake streets, just north of 21c Museum Hotel in downtown Bentonville.
Its operational status will be updated on the Friends of Bentonville Parks and Recreation Facebook page.
Source: Staff report
However, The Rink likely could be closed this week if the forecasts of warm and wet weather hold true.
The National Weather Center forecasts a high near 60 degrees today and possible showers and thunderstorms tonight into Wednesday. Wednesday and Thursday are expected to get into the 60s. Rain is expected over the weekend.
"We're going to give it our best (to stay open), but I'm not optimistic," Wright said Monday afternoon.
Recent temperatures in the 50s and 60s have melted the ice quickly, forcing The Rink to close six times since it opened Nov. 21, said Emily Deal, recreation specialist.
It closed again around 4 p.m. Monday because the ice was too thin.
The ice is going to melt if it's above 32 degrees and the sun is shining, Wright said.
"We've been down more days this year in three weeks of operation than we were all of last year," Wright said.
The rink closed because of weather three days last season, according to Wright.
The Rink typically opens the weekend before Thanksgiving and closes late January.
The problem is nights have been too warm, officials said. It needs to get down to at least 45 degrees for the ice to be rebuilt overnight.
Typically, ice can refreeze on its own once the sun goes down, Wright said.
There have been about 600 skaters at The Rink on weekend days and about 200-300 skaters each day during the week, Deal said. The busiest day was opening day, which saw about 800 people.
There were 83 people skating at 1:20 p.m. Monday. It was 59 degrees. The sun was shining, and a slight breeze blew.
Most people wore a sweatshirt or something lighter. Some were in T-shirts. The few who sported hats and gloves did so more for style than functionality.
Experienced skaters created wakes in the puddles as they rounded corners. Those who fell got up dripping wet. Two staff members skated with squeegees, directing the excess water to a corner drain.
"It's more of a slip and slide than an ice rink," Tamy Ringler of Farmington said with a laugh. She was at The Rink with her son, Kasyn Brown, 6.
They skated at The Rink last year. The weather wasn't as warm, and the ice was harder, making it easier to skate, she said. The two were still full of smiles as they navigated through puddles Monday.
"We're having a blast," Ringler said.
Employees blocked off the south corners at about 1:30 p.m. as the ice became too thin, and the concrete bottom could be seen. Officials closed the rink later in the day.
The goal is to see 10,000 in a season, Wright said, adding that may not happen this year if The Rink is closed during winter break. There have been 5,224 skaters this season as of Monday afternoon.
Warm weather may mean that less people can ice skate, but it can bring people outside for other reasons, such as using the trails or viewing the lights on the square, Wright said.
NW News on 12/22/2015