Good news if you like to Ice skate. The UNMC ice rink will open this Friday, November 30th with operations continuing through February 10th.
The outdoor rink is just east of 42nd Street, midway between Emile Street and Dewey Avenue on the north side of the Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education. Admission is $7, which includes skates (cash or credit card only – no checks or debit cards).
William Lawlor, assistant vice chancellor for business and finance, noted that new skates have been purchased for this year.
Hours of operation are:
- Monday – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Tuesday – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Wednesday – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Thursday – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday – 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Sunday – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“The outdoor ice rink is only open for about 10 weeks, so we want to maximize its usage,” Lawlor says. “It’s the premier outdoor skating rink in our community. We want people to use it.”
Anytime the weather is consistently above 50 degrees or there’s a wind-chill of zero degrees or below, the public is asked to first check to see if the rink is open by going to Facebook or by calling (402) 559-0697.
The rink is closed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings for the UNMC student broomball and curling leagues. The rink also will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Free parking is available in Lot 15 (surface lot on 40th Street between Dewey Avenue and Emile Street) located on the north and east sides of the UNMC Center for Healthy Living.
This year, the 24-hour UNMC Skate-a-thon for Parkinson’s will begin on Friday, Jan. 25 at 2 p.m. and end Saturday, Jan. 26 at 2 p.m. It will mark the ninth consecutive year that UNMC has hosted the 24-hour event that raises money for Parkinson’s research at UNMC and assists families dealing with Parkinson's.