What heat? Ice arena opens today

Skylar Gaw, left, 13, and Makenna Johnson, 13, rehearse ice dancing at the Washington Park Ice Arena in Jefferson City.
Skylar Gaw, left, 13, and Makenna Johnson, 13, rehearse ice dancing at the Washington Park Ice Arena in Jefferson City.

Jefferson City's Washington Park Ice Arena officially opens for the season today after its annual two-month hiatus.

The arena will open daily from 8 a.m. to around midnight. Admission costs $5 for youth and $7.50 for adults, with a $2 skate rental fee.

The arena is also available for rentals.

The ice arena historically has operated during figure-skating season, from July through April.

The Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission has discussed keeping it open year round, which Parks staff favor as a potential cost-saving measure. The final decision will be made during the city's annual budget discussions that continue through summer.

"We are really hoping to be open year around if the budget will allow it," said Kerri Gates, who manages the ice arena.

If the arena were to stay open full time, the Parks and Recreation Department could save money on the cost of rebuilding the ice annually, instead closing it every three to five years for three to four weeks to rebuild the ice.

This year, the ice-making process began July 5 and was set to take a just over two weeks, wrapping up last Friday.

Keeping the arena open year round could also allow it to host free ice-skating camps during the summer along with lessons during figure-skating season, Gates said.

"We are very excited for the opportunity to be open year round, and we know there are a lot of locals that are happy that the arena might be open full time and be able to endorse the sport," Gates said.