Ice Trail in Chicago

nomarandlee · January 10th, 2011, 12:26 AM

Love this idea I saw in the Toronto section given I've thought how cool it would be to have something similar. I have always thought it gets rather monotonous to skate around a rink.
It would just be another winter attraction that we could make winters just a bit more palpable to both visitors and residents to alike.

The Ice trail

Quote:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...7#post70264747

http://www.thestar.com/videozone/917...ible-icy-trail
An incredible, icy trail
It's likely the most unique skating surface in Toronto. The Star's Randy Risling has a look at the new Sam Smith Ice Trail. (January 7, 2011)
Meandering lazily through a portion of Colonel Samuel Smith Park at Etobicoke’s waterfront, the 250-metre trail is like a country path for people on skates.
“You’ll always see Nathan Phillips Square in the news (for skating)”, says Ward 6 Councillor Mark Grimes, who was instrumental in the creation of the trail.
“But it’s great to see that the city as a whole is now paying attention to Colonel Sam Smith Park.”
The trail, which features two large interconnected loops, is artificially cooled – meaning it will still have a good surface even on those occasionally balmy winter days. Resting beneath the ice, the high-tech cooling system is all but invisible, adding to the feeling you’re simply skating through the outdoors.
Though new for Toronto, the concept was inspired by Gage Park in Brampton – where families can skate a path that winds its way through majestic trees. It’s also been getting attention; a television crew from South Korea shot a story there in early January.

Any ideas on where to put one in Chicago? Perhaps we could put a nice lenghty track at Northerly Island or Riverside Park for now.

DeMaFrost · January 10th, 2011, 01:32 AM

That's a fantastic idea. I am assuming it would probably go somewhere in Lincoln Park because there is a lot of land to put something like that in, and it would be really nice with the views of downtown and the gold coast. You are right it is boring to skate in a circle after awhile.

Mr Downtown · January 10th, 2011, 06:14 AM

Cool idea, but for the last couple of decades Chicago winters haven't been reliably cold enough for natural ice outdoors. Eventually the Midway Plaisance rink had to be rebuilt with refrigeration coils.

Northsider · January 10th, 2011, 08:56 PM

I would love that!

Quote:

Cool idea, but for the last couple of decades Chicago winters haven't been reliably cold enough for natural ice outdoors. Eventually the Midway Plaisance rink had to be rebuilt with refrigeration coils.

I remember not too long ago (maybe 5 or 6 years ago) we had mid 40s most of the winter.

schweitzerdude · January 11th, 2011, 06:16 AM

I lived in Chicago for much of my life and as a kid did a lot of ice skating. But, winter weather is so variable. It can be +50F one week and -20F the next.

minneapolis-uptown · February 9th, 2011, 07:30 AM

i never knew it got so warm in chicago in the winter

nomarandlee · February 9th, 2011, 04:29 PM

A week long worth of +40 weather let alone +50 in the middle of winter is rather rare around Chicago. At most we may get a few times where there is a set of 2 or 3 days where it stays at those temps.

Perhaps something like this would work down by the new BMX track down at South Works.

ChitownCity · February 10th, 2011, 05:38 AM

^It was a high of 10F degrees today. Next wednesday is predicted to be 44F degrees

January 11th, 2011, 06:16 AM	#5
schweitzerdude Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Sandpoint,Idaho Posts: 21 Likes (Received): 0	Variable winter weather I lived in Chicago for much of my life and as a kid did a lot of ice skating. But, winter weather is so variable. It can be +50F one week and -20F the next.

February 9th, 2011, 04:29 PM	#7
nomarandlee My Mind Has Left My Body Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: 1060 W. Addison, City by the Lake Posts: 7,120 Likes (Received): 120	A week long worth of +40 weather let alone +50 in the middle of winter is rather rare around Chicago. At most we may get a few times where there is a set of 2 or 3 days where it stays at those temps. Perhaps something like this would work down by the new BMX track down at South Works. __________________ -young middle-class lad or lass who feels elated by thinking that he or she has covered all aspects of politics and religion with the help of a few lectures by a certified conspiracy crank or by watching a straight-to-YouTube ‘documentary’. - Nadeem F. Paracha Its the buddhist in you, it's the pagan in me. Its the muslim in him, she's catholic aint she? Its the born again look it's the wasp and the jew Tell me what's goin on, I aint gotta clue - Jimmy Buffett

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January 10th, 2011, 01:32 AM	#2
DeMaFrost Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Too North for Lakeview, too east for Roscoe Village Posts: 479 Likes (Received): 0	That's a fantastic idea. I am assuming it would probably go somewhere in Lincoln Park because there is a lot of land to put something like that in, and it would be really nice with the views of downtown and the gold coast. You are right it is boring to skate in a circle after awhile.

January 10th, 2011, 06:14 AM	#3
Mr Downtown Urbane observer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,532 Likes (Received): 0	Cool idea, but for the last couple of decades Chicago winters haven't been reliably cold enough for natural ice outdoors. Eventually the Midway Plaisance rink had to be rebuilt with refrigeration coils.

February 9th, 2011, 07:30 AM	#6
minneapolis-uptown Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 804 Likes (Received): 1	i never knew it got so warm in chicago in the winter

February 10th, 2011, 05:38 AM	#8
ChitownCity Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: CGO, IL Posts: 1,354 Likes (Received): 1	^It was a high of 10F degrees today. Next wednesday is predicted to be 44F degrees