Venues offer families opportunities for ice skating fun

Love ice skating? Would you love to break out the skates but can’t find a place locally to have some winter fun?

There’s no reason to look outside the region or the state. Central Park Plaza in Valparaiso and Deep River Waterpark in Crown Point offer families, individuals, and groups opportunities to enjoy their favorite outdoor winter sport.

Here’s a little on the two sites:

Central Park Plaza/Urschel Pavilion – This year-round venue at 68 Lafayette St. in downtown Valparaiso offers cold weather fun from mid-November through early March. The William E. Urschel Pavilion is a 12,000-square-foot, year-round facility converted to winter with its 80-by-120-foot outdoor ice rink protected from the elements by a towering arched roof. Open to individual skaters, families, or groups, the pavilion features a sound system for music and colorfully changing lighting.

The plaza houses the Indiana Beverage Activity Center that not only welcomes guests to the ice rink, along with skate rental and concessions. The center has tables and chairs for skaters to warm up or relax, as well as a conference room that can be reserved for small parties. Locker rental is also available. A full glass wall affords those inside a view of action on the ice.

That action includes a youth hockey league running now through March 10. The pavilion also has skating specials, including DJ music on Friday evenings and First Thursday $6 admission and skate rentals.

General skate admission is $5; skate rental is $4. Helmets and lo. ckers may also be rented. Admission passes for individuals and families are also available.

For more information on the Urschel Pavilion, call 219-548-4888 or visit www.centralparkplaza.com.

Deep River Waterpark – Located at 9001 E. U.S. 30 in Crown Point, this watery facility known for summer splashing converts to winter skating at the plaza from late November through February.

The ice skating plaza’s features include skate rentals, concessions, parties, and themed events. Admission is $5 a person. The fun includes DJ music and concessions, as skaters welcome the New Year at 8:00 p.m.

Parking is always free at the waterpark. Regular admission rates are $5 for adults (age 15 and older); $4 for children ages 14 and under and seniors ages 62-plus; and $6 for skate rental. Spectators are free, and guests may always bring their own skates.

Weather permitting, the Deep River skating season runs through Feb. 23. The skate plaza may be closed at any point due to inclement weather. The plaza is open for skating Thursdays through Sundays, opening at 4:00 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and at noon on weekends.

The waterpark’s ice skating plaza is available for parties and group gatherings. To learn more about the facility or to schedule a group outing, call 219-947-7850 ext. 604 or visit www.deepriverwaterpark.com.

Photo cutline:

Ice skaters make use of the Urschel Pavilion during the 2016-17 season. The current season at the downtown Valparaiso facility runs through early March.

Ice skating opportunities in the region

Several facilities in Northwest Indiana offer ice skating. Some facilities offer skate rentals and refreshments. Following is a listing of ice skating sites. Call the particular site(s) for additional information, including hours and fees.

Deep River Waterpark

9001 E. U.S. Hwy. 30

Crown Point

219-947-7850

Midwest Training and Ice Center

10600 White Oak Ave.

Dyer

219-558-8811

Central Park Plaza (Urschel Pavilion)

63 Lafayette St.

Valparaiso

219-548-4888

Community Park

8601 Calumet Ave.

Munster

219-836-7275

Crown Point Sports Plex

1313 E. North St.

219-661-2271

Forsythe Park

119th St and Parrish Ave.

Whiting-Hammond

219-659-7678

Bulldog Park

Corner of Walnut and West St.

Crown Point

219-661-2271

Edison Park

Madison Ave. and Mulberry St.

Hammond

Pulaski Park

139th and Sheffield

Hammond

Irving Park

Hoffman St. and Columbia Ave.

Hammond

Riverside Park

Calumet Ave. and River Dr. North

Hammond

219-853-6378

Central Park Ice Rink

698 N. Broad St.

Griffith

219-922-3078

MacArthur Golf Course

4000 Indianapolis Blvd.

East Chicago

219-391-8302

The Lake at Washington Park

115 Lakeshore Dr.

Michigan City

219-873-1506

Soldiers Memorial Rink

250 Pine Lake Ave.

LaPorte

219-326-9600