Ice Skating in Washington Park!
We love it when people stop in and tell us stories about the past. Just the other day someone stopped in with a photo from the early 1900s of the lagoon filled with ice skaters. It’s remarkable to see how excited people are when they talk about their memories of skating in Washington Park. It made us even more determined to bring this activity back to the park. We are very happy to announce that there will be ice skating again on the lagoon this year!
As the word is starting to spread, there are several recurring questions:
When will the ice be open?
Our lagoon will be included on the Milwaukee County Outdoor Ice Skating location list. What this means is that when the County Parks staff determines that the ice is thick enough, they will announce it on their website: www.countyparks.com (click on Water-based Recreation). As a rule of thumb, ice on lagoons must be 6 inches thick in order to be open for public skating.
Will the bathrooms be open?
Our open hours are Tuesday-Friday, 4-7 p.m. and Saturday, 9-5 p.m. The community building is not generally open to the public at other times. So, if you want to join us for a cup of hot chocolate and to get warmed up, come during our open hours!
Do you have skates I can borrow?
We are happy to now include children’s skates in our equipment lending program, thanks to the generosity of the Harley Davidson Foundation. In addition, we have several pairs of adult skates that have been donated. If you would like to borrow our skates, please call in advance to check for sizes. Also, if you have a pair of skates collecting dust in your basement, consider donating them!
If ice skating isn’t your thing, there is plenty to do in the winter at Washington Park. Stop by any time during open hours to borrow snowshoes, sleds or ice fishing equipment. Come to Winterfest on January 30th to get a taste for all of these things. You’ll also be able to try cross-country skiing, take a ride on our sleigh and of course, practice your ice skating.
Come inside to warm up with some hot chocolate, then get back outside and play!
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Host to a large lagoon and natural area, Washington Park is a beautiful place to get outdoors. Visit our Center to find guided and self-led activities for families and kids. Borrow our fishing poles or ice skates. Watch for heron and other water fowl. Pick up a tree id guide from our Center and explore Washington Park!
