Chill Out: Explore Bemidji’s Winter Wonderland Skating Rinks!

BEMIDJI — When temperatures fall below zero, it can occasionally be challenging to summon the motivation to step outdoors for recreational activities.

The municipality of Bemidji seeks to resolve this seasonal challenge by offering outdoor ice skating rinks that are accessible to the public every day, featuring three locations and a total of five rinks where residents can skate for free during the colder months.

TJ Rhodes / Bemidji Pioneer

These rinks, situated at Nymore Park, City Park, and the Tourist Information Center — the TIC rink is significantly smaller and designed more for children who are learning to skate — are open daily after necessary maintenance and remain accessible until 8 p.m. when the lights are turned off.

Nymore Park and City Park each feature two rinks available to the public: one for leisure skating and another for casual hockey. The parks also furnish hockey nets, skate rentals, and warming houses, ensuring everyone can enjoy the ice as they prefer while keeping warm.

TJ Rhodes / Bemidji Pioneer

The outdoor city rinks are comparable in size to most indoor rinks; however, they vary in their maintenance methods.

As temperatures begin to drop, city crews flood the outdoor rinks to establish a fresh layer of ice suitable for skating. Following the initial flooding that fills the ice, additional floods are necessary to maintain it, as the city crews lack access to a Zamboni and the ice itself is vulnerable to the weather conditions.

TJ Rhodes / Bemidji Pioneer

Flooding the ice is a relatively straightforward procedure: first, city personnel clear the rink of all visible snow and ice shavings. Next, they activate a hose and start applying water on top of the existing ice. This task can take about two hours.

This process is repeated almost daily as temperatures fluctuate.

When it warms up, cracks may develop in the ice, and flooding helps to address this. However, if it becomes excessively warm, around 40 degrees, city crews may refrain from flooding, as it will not freeze adequately and could pose a danger for skaters as the ice begins to thaw. Furthermore, if it turns too cold, the flooding must be executed meticulously, as the water could freeze too rapidly, creating bumps and irregularities.

The goal of flooding is to maintain an ice thickness of around 2-4 inches. Insufficient thickness means the ice isn’t sustainable; excessive thickness makes it too difficult to manage – though the surplus ice does help prevent closures during warmer spells.

TJ Rhodes / Bemidji Pioneer

Flooding is a crucial process as it helps maintain the quality of the ice. Those involved in the maintenance enjoy the task, even when the temperature drops below zero.

“The staff takes great pride in it,” stated Parks and Recreation Superintendent Scott Schroeder. “I know they value what it contributes to the community; they want to ensure good ice. This makes it a bit more enjoyable when it’s four degrees below.”

TJ Rhodes / Bemidji Pioneer

“For me, that’s partly why I am in this position,” Schroeder elaborated. “The goal of my role is to create opportunities for the residents to utilize the public spaces we have within the city. There’s a strong sense of pride in wanting there to be ice.”

The temperature significantly impacts the success of any outdoor ice rink.

TJ Rhodes / Bemidji Pioneer

If it becomes too warm, city crews will redirect their efforts to trimming trees or focusing on other initiatives, although they would prefer to continue working on the ice.

Last year posed its own challenges.

Bemidjians faced an unusual winter that saw reduced snowfall and milder temperatures, leading to a more difficult outdoor ice skating season.

“It was so erratic that we couldn’t establish a solid base; it wasn’t cold enough for long enough to sustain the ice,” Schroeder explained.

This resulted in an increased number of closures, something that residents can stay updated on via Bemidji’sParks and Recreation Facebook profile.

From the viewpoint of the parks and recreation team, this year has been considerably more favorable for outdoor ice as temperatures have consistently remained low.

A few weeks back, temperatures climbed into the 30s and 40s. Whereas this would have likely resulted in the closure of outdoor rinks the previous year, this year is distinct.

“(This year’s) elevated temperatures didn’t significantly impact the ice since there was already a solid base,” Schroeder stated.

This essentially indicates that this winter has presented colder average temperatures compared to last year, benefiting the ice. This results in reduced closures and an extended outdoor ice skating season — this year, the ice premiered just after Thanksgiving and Schroeder anticipates the ice to stay open until late March at the earliest.

Indoor skating opportunities are also accessible at the Bemidji Community Arena’s Sanford Power Rink and Nymore Gardens, which provide scheduled public skating hours. Additionally, they facilitate occasional open skate sessions specifically designated for hockey. These facilities also offer skate rentals for those who need them.

The timetable can be located on the

Bemidji Community Arena webpage

or the

BCA’s Facebook profile.

TJ Rhodes / Bemidji Pioneer