Long-awaited McMorran ice rink going in. Where else can you skate outdoors?

As winter deepens and temperatures drop, several outdoor ice skating rinks are expected to open soon in local communities.

Among the most anticipated, in downtown Port Huron, a long-awaited seasonal centerpiece is nearly ready to open at McMorran Plaza, where a rink will be featured at the revamped Main Street gathering and entertainment area.

As of last week, some of the equipment was already in place, but officials said they’re still in limbo until the final pieces arrive.

“We’re waiting on a couple sensors for (an) ice compressor. Our goal is to have (open) not this Friday, but (Jan. 6),” Rob Churchill, McMorran’s manager, said Thursday. “I’m hoping by Monday or Tuesday of next week, we’ll have that equipment, and we should be able to have it open — depending on weather, obviously.”

Later in January, several other rinks, including elsewhere in Port Huron, Goodells County Park, Marine City, Marysville and St. Clair, are also expected to see use from local residents.

Here are the highlights:

Port Huron

An existing community ice rink is set up at Lincoln Park on Port Huron’s south end, where local crews began work in mid-December.

The rink was first set up several years ago with a boost from Blue Water Recovery and Outreach. And like many local rinks, it requires an outdoor freeze.

City Manager James Freed has said a cooling system at McMorran Plaza sets the new rink apart.

“We can operate in all types of weather,” he said.

Still, Churchill said the new rink may be off to a rough start with expected precipitation and warmer high temperatures, according to the National Weather Service, in the first days of 2023.

“I don’t need to have it where it actually freezes from the weather,” Churchill said. “What worries me a little bit in the next week or so is we’re supposed to get a lot of rain, and rain will definitely affect it because even though you have refrigeration, rain will melt the ice anyway.”

Residents can bring their own skates or rent them through McMorran’s main arena pro shop. An ID will be required to check skates out.

Churchill said hours for the plaza rink likely will be noon to 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, noon to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 8 pm. Sunday.

More information will be shared through McMorran Place’s and Port Huron Parks and Recreation’s social media.

Officials said it’s exciting to bring the last recreational piece to the plaza this winter.

“We’ve continued to do bands in Casey’s bar on the plaza on Friday and Saturday throughout the winter,” Churchill said of Casey’s on the Plaza. “But I really wanted to do something outside, as well. This will give that opportunity. We’ll get some people who can do things outside (and) some activities for kids.”

Goodells

Dennis Delor, St. Clair County’s parks and recreation director, said Goodells County Park seasonally has a large covered outdoor rink at its special events arena building.

This winter, they were hoping to have it up and running by mid-January. No official announcement of an opening date had been made as of Friday.

Delor said the weather-dependent rink is popular with active users, including during open skate hours and among those who schedule to play hockey. The rink is part of an ongoing push for four-season recreation opportunities at county parks.

The arena is near the community center lobby, which is available as a space for skaters to warm up and use restroom facilities.

“It’s also lit, which is nice,” Delor said. “The advantage of that (is) when it gets dark, there’s lights in there (in the arena). We try to keep people informed on the conditions.”

Delor expects further information to be announced by the department as 2023 gets underway.

For more information or weather conditions related to park activities, call 810-989-6960 or visit county parks and rec on Facebook.

Other rinks

In St. Clair, Recreation Director Trice Hawkins said the city’s outdoor ice rink is already in place at Greig Park.

A portable, board-based rink, she said it was originally purchased for downtown before it was moved around town. Now, they’re waiting for cold temperatures to freeze it.

“It is a smaller-size rink,” Hawkins said. “We had a natural ice rink on Brown Street, but there’s a development going in there. So, that is no longer available to us. It was always private property, but we were allowed to use it. So, we’re working on that as far as future plans so we can have some ice rinks in town.”

In Marine City, where an ice rink was initially set up at Nautical Mile Park a few years ago, there is a rink at 300 Broadway and the old city hall — the same site as last year.

Laura Merchant, president of the Marine City Area Chamber of Commerce, said Thursday that "with this warm weather, the caution’s been put up because it’s melting.”

The chamber originally was involved with bringing in donations that helped open the rink.

With 50-degree highs across the state this week, officials expect the rink to freeze once again later in January — and particularly before the chamber’s Fire, Ice & Spice event, which Merchant called “kind of like a winter carnival” Feb. 11 featuring a chili cookoff and skaters.

In Marysville, a rink is traditionally set up at 14th Street and Huron Boulevard, across from Marysville High School. City Manager Randy Fernandez the rink is popular, including with some Silver Stick teams and visitors from out of town.

The city also hadn't made any formal announcements about getting the rink in place next month. Typically, Fernandez said, it's set up with lights, plenty of parking and potential electrical hookups if they have a food truck come in.

“It’s multiple ponds. So, that’s why people can play hockey there, but then, they don’t interfere with the people just trying to skate," he said. "... It’s all weather dependent. And I heard this from (Public Works Director) Barry Kreiner, the ground has to freeze first and then develop a frost. Then, our DPW can put the water on it and maintain it. So, right now, it can’t happen. It’s just too warm.”

Fernandez added the city of Marysville also floods a small pocket park for skating off Sixth Street.

Contact Jackie Smith at 810-989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jackie20Smith.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Long-awaited McMorran ice rink going in. Where else can you skate outdoors?