When a group of hockey parents and community leaders set their sights on creating a free, outdoor rink in Wicker Park, getting the project approved was only the first step. With a fundraising goal of $30,000 through a GoFundMe campaign set to be reached by October 2015, the fate of Wicker ICE was to be determined by the support (and wallets) of the community.
Today, the Wicker Park Advisory Council and the Wicker Park and Bucktown Chamber of Commerce announced that a 60-by-120-foot rink will indeed be constructed this winter in Wicker Park at 1425 N Damen. The non-refrigerated rink will be filled December 5, and it will open as soon as Mother Nature sees fit. Weather permitting, the rink will be open 9am to 8pm daily. The council will release a schedule of times for free skating and hockey on its website shortly.
With the project’s success official, Wicker Park Advisory Council president Doug Wood gave the following statement: "Charles Gustavus Wicker said, 'It is up to you to create the community in which you'd like to live; don't wait for someone to do it for you.'”
We can’t wait to shred some ice in Wicker Park this winter.