Barnum Park Ice Rink Now Open

Temperatures are finally cold enough and Birmingham's ice skaters and hockey players need not wait any longer: the Barnum Park outdoor ice rink is now open.

Birmingham had a late start prepping its only outdoor ice rink. The city began filling the rink at the beginning of January after snow over Christmas delayed the ice rink's set-up.

The Barnum Park ice rink typically opens every year in mid-December or once the weather is cold enough to freeze the half a foot of water and keep it frozen. The city maintains the rink until mid-February, at which point the ice rink remains for as long as weather conditions allow.

The city has outlined a series of rules for the outdoor ice rink:

• Use the facility at your own risk.
• The city does not assume responsibility for injury or for any loss, theft or damage to personal items.
• Hockey is permitted between 8-10 a.m. and 2-4 p.m.
• No pets allowed.
• No objects, food or drink allowed on the ice.
• No loitering or use of the rink by persons without skates.
• No cross-skating or any other skating that interferes with general skating.
• No speed-skating.
• No games are permitted that will interfere with other skaters (for example, broom ball).
• Keep the rink tidy. Put your trash in the cans provided.
• No smoking.
• Absolutely no intoxicating beverages permitted on the skating rink.
• Be considerate of noise levels.
• Do not use foul or offensive language.
• Do not fight or play roughly inside the rink surface.
• The city of Birmingham is not responsible for the safety of skaters using the rinks during closed hours, or for the loss or theft of personal belongings.

Temperatures should be below freezing all week long. On Friday, the high will be 29 degrees though according to www.weather.com, the high Tuesday will dip down to 18 degrees.