Jacque Clark guided a puck down the Windom Park ice rink during one of the eight days it was open last winter. (Cynthia Sowden)
Recalling last winter’s one week of ice skating, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) ran into a buzzsaw when it announced in late October that, because of climate change and expense, it would not create a skating rink at Windom Park and three other Minneapolis parks this year. The board reversed its decision about Windom on Nov. 8.
Last winter, MPRB employees wore shorts — in January — as they flooded the city’s 45 rinks. It cost the Park Board $887,646, or nearly $111,000 per day, to create skatable ice for eight actual days of skating.
Delayed rink construction may be becoming a new norm. In December 2021, the Northeaster reported a late start to ice-making at Windom. After a dry summer and a warm fall, the start date was Nov. 30. St. Anthony and Columbia Heights park officials were waiting for a hard frost before turning the tap.
The Park Board is wrestling with its budget, which will be voted on in December. It seeks to make up for a $1.5 million gap, which could be partially closed by not creating ice rinks. Money saved could be directed toward finishing Graco Park.
Seven people spoke in opposition to the idea of no ice at Windom at the Nov. 6 Park Board meeting, most of them from Northeast.
One was Abby Von Gohren. “Every November for the past ten years my family and neighbors start watching for the most reliable sign that winter is coming, that is the plywood and the frames for the ice hockey rink in Windom Park,” she said. “When we start seeing that, we start rubbing our hands together — yes, soon the ice rink will be open.”
She called the rink “an essential part of our neighborhood,” and it’s been a place where her family has held birthday parties. She noted the space is also used by Rec Plus and Pillsbury School, which enables families from different socioeconomic backgrounds to have access to good safe play outdoors after school.
Cory Larson, president of the Minneapolis Titans youth hockey, talked of how the Titans rely heavily on the Northeast Ice Arena and easy access to outdoor ice, including Windom Park. The Titans organization subsidizes 100% of its membership with reduced fees to play hockey, including providing equipment. They also provide hockey to 10% of their membership at no cost. “Without these rinks, we just simply won’t exist. We’re still struggling to recover from the closure of Victory Memorial ice. I understand the challenge to fund these rinks is difficult but the long-term consequences of shutting down any access to ice is substantial. I ask that you reconsider your budget to find a way to fund these rinks,” he said.
Tony Tillman’s testimony was poetic: “Windom ice rink is a place of winter magic. On Friday nights neighbors gather around a bonfire rinkside while kids tussle for a puck or twirl on figure skates. Lights of downtown twinkle in the distance and snow covers the old houses. Everything is perfect.”
Mike Snee, vice president of the Minnesota Wild Foundation and Community Relations, also spoke. He said the foundation is dedicated to raising philanthropic dollars and reinvest it back in developing hockey programs. “We heard about this news this weekend and we mobilized. We want to put together a committee of people, the hockey leaders in Minneapolis — City of Lakes Youth Hockey, New Directions, DinoMights, my association and certainly Park Board hockey, which I truly believe is a hidden gem — not enough people know that young people can play hockey for $95. Our simple ask is that you at least delay this decision one year to allow the Minnesota Wild to perhaps create a lot more reasons for you not only to not close these rinks but perhaps maybe someday open more rinks.”
In a Nov. 8 press release, MPRB said Windom Park will have one hockey and general skating rink, Logan Park will have two broomball and general skating rinks and Van Cleve Park will have one hockey, one broomball and one general skating rink. According to the release, “The Powderhorn and Webber NSP rinks will remain closed for 2024/25, and ice rinks will be evaluated with the plan for up to an additional three ice rink closures for the 2025/2026 season. Sites are chosen based on costs associated with construction of rinks, renting warming house structures and the challenges of maintaining the ice with the changing climate.”
Northeast native and former Pittsburgh Penguins/Phoenix Coyote wing Joe Dziedzic heard about the potential closure from Park Commissioner Billy Menz.
Dziedzic was interviewed by the Minnesota Star Tribune before the hearing. “For me, Windom is where it all began. It’s where I learned to skate and learned to love the game,” he said. “I spent a lot of hours playing with my buddies down at that rink. Lots of good memories.”
Told the Park Board had reversed its order, he told the Northeaster, “Glad to hear that they will keep it open. Now we just need the weather to cooperate.”
Many children have learned to skate at Windom Park. (Northeaster file, Alex Schlee)