Ice Skating at Rosa Parks Circle Starts This Thursday
Update 11/30: After delays due to weather, ice skating season at Rosa Parks Circle downtown Grand Rapids will begin Thursday Dec. 1.
The City of Grand Rapids has shared the below skate times for Dec. 2, 2022:
Update 11/29/2022: After initially announcing an opening day of Nov. 25, 2022, the City of Grand Rapids has had to postpone ice skating at Rosa Parks Circle due to weather.
The City of Grand Rapids shared to Facebook,
Recent weather has made ice making difficult for our team. We tried our best to work through warm temperatures and sunshine, but weren’t able to get the ice to skating quality for our initial opening date of November 25...
We'll reevaluate on Wednesday (Nov. 30, 2022) and provide another update then. Thanks for your patience!
Follow Rosa Parks Circle Ice Rink on Facebook for updates.
Update 11/3/2022 We now know when ice skating is back at Rosa Parks Circle!
The City of Grand Rapids has announced that the rink at Rosa Parks Circle opens Nov. 25, 2022, at 10a.m.
The rink at 135 Monroe Center St. NW will be open daily, weather permitting, through Feb. 26.
After no ice skating at Rosa Parks Circle last year (it was moved to Van Andel Arena due to construction delays) and limited capacity in 2020 due to the pandemic, the rink will be back at full capacity this season.
Those wanting to ice skate can walk-up or reserve skate times online. One person can reserve a skate time for up to six household members. Reservations are free and skaters pay upon arrival.
Cost to skate at Rosa Parks Circle Ice Rink is $2 for those 17 years old and younger and $4 for adults 18 and older. Skate rental is included with admission.
Reservations for the first two weeks of the season will open on Nov. 16 at 8 a.m. here. The City of GR says additional dates will become available up to two weeks in advance starting November 26.
Original Story: 10/25/ 2022: It's been a rough few years for ice skating downtown Grand Rapids at Rosa Parks Circle...
A favorite West Michigan winter-time activity, the last "normal" ice skating season at Rosa Parks Circle was the 2019-2020 season.
Previous Ice Skating Seasons at Rosa Parks Circle
Last year, we saw a shortened ice skating season due to construction delays. There was a piece of granite REALLY holding things up at Rosa Parks Circle.
While Rosa Parks Circle didn't host any ice skaters last year, thankfully, the City arranged for free public skating at Van Andel Arena. That didn't begin until late December though, weeks after the regular season would have begun at Rosa Parks Circle, and ended mid-January. So not a TON of time to get that ice skating in.
The winter before, space was limited for ice skaters at Rosa Parks Circle due to the COVID-19 pandemic...
But the City of Grand Rapids says ice skating is back "full force" this year at the downtown Grand Rapids landmark!
When Does Rosa Parks Circle Open For Ice Skating?
The City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation shared a post to Facebook this week saying,
We're ONE MONTH AWAY from re-opening our department-owned and operated Rosa Parks Circle Ice Rink! After limiting space during COVID-19 and relocating to Van Andel Arena for a shortened season due to construction, we'll be back in full force this winter for 13 weeks of ice skating!
While an exact opening date has yet to be announced, I'd guess the rink may reopen around Thanksgiving.
The City says skate season details are coming soon. For updates, follow the Rosa Parks Circle Ice Rink Facebook page.
More Ice Skating Options in Grand Rapids Area
If you're looking for more places to ice skate, multiple Grand Rapids facilities offer open skate times indoors: