Park District: Snow Cleanup Set for Depot Pond Skate Rink

Ice skaters will have to wait a little longer to get back onto the Depot Pond skating rink in downtown Batavia.

Batavia Park District maintenance crews tried to clear blizzard snow from the pond on Friday, but the weight of the snow caused parts of the ice to break, according to a press release.

Now workers will have to wait for the holes to refreeze to bring equipment back on the ice. Park crews this week will return to the pond to check the ice.

If conditions are safe, staff will begin to resurface the area and prepare it for skaters. No word yet on how this week's warmer temps will affect the reopening.

"Our crews are doing exceptional considering the circumstances," Executive Director Mike Clark said.

Blizzard cleanup for the Park District's other facilities took precedence over areas like the pond. Workers cleared snow piles from park district, city and school properties.

"Our priority was to provide safe entrances and parking lots for our patrons," said Eric Lacher, district director of parks and properties.

Since the pond is not artificial, flooding the rink with more water is not an option to restore the surface.

"Flooding the rink adds too much weight to the surface, creating an unsafe environment," Lacher said.

The Depot Pond has seen a record number of operational days this year, despite warming house.

For more information, call the Batavia Park District at 630-879-5235 or visit bataviaparks.org.