Outdoor Ice Rink Returning for Another Season of Skating

Birmingham residents can look forward to another season of ice skating outdoors, as the at is set to open for a second year.

According to a memo presented at the Monday night meeting of the Birmingham City Commission, the is on schedule to install and fill the rink in mid-December, weather permitting.

The city will maintain the rink until Feb. 15, at which point the rink will remain in place for as long as weather conditions allow. The city will not resurface or replace rink materials after that point if the ice melts.

In a memo to the commission, Parks and Recreation Manager Carrie Laird said the Barnum ice rink received mostly positive comments from the public.

"Some issues arose regarding the rink being primarily used for hockey," Laird said. "But the department which allowed for better sharing of the rink among all users."

The total cost of installing the rink last year came in at approximately $10,000, Laird said, with $7,150 coming from private donations.

Based on the rink's success last year, Laird said DPS included installation and operational costs for a second rink in its current budget.