Skaters braved the bitter cold to take a turn across the ice at two rinks at Gilbert Park in La Grange.
The rinks are set up by volunteers who have been led by Dan Laczynski for the past 14 years.
The rinks are usually ink place until about mid to late February, but it all depends on the weather.
“The rinks will be up for as long as Mother Nature cooperates. Meaning, so long as the weather stays below freezing and the rinks are usable, they will be up,” Laczynksi said.
Laczyynski, who enjoys skating, doesn’t mind the work involved in installing and maintaining the rinks.
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“I do it because the community needs an ice rink,” he said “It’s a beautiful thing for people to have the opportunity to be skating in the middle of winter.”
With the cooperation of the Park District of La Grange, he said the first rink was installed in the winter of 2002/2003.
“I know there have been hundreds if not thousands of people that have used the rinks and enjoyed them as much as I have over the years,” he said. “I look at the rinks as a real assets. Community gems that wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for all the support we’ve received from all the volunteers and the park district.”
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