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Residents must wait for safe ice skating

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The Madison Parks Division reports excellent cross country skiing and sledding conditions, while ice skating rinks continue to prove troublesome.

"There is no skating at this point because the ice is not firm enough," said LaVonne LaFave, Parks Division clerical and support manager. "The snow is hampering the freezing of the water under it, and we are getting a real slushy base."

LaFave said the Madison Parks Division has not been able to prepare the ice rinks for decent skating.

Because some of the rinks are on lagoons and bays, the water underneath has not been able to freeze properly, LaFave said.

According to LaFave, it is uncertain when the ice rinks will open because of particular factors that must be present before the Madison Parks Division can begin preparations.

"It's going to take a minimum of six days of below-freezing temperatures, and we're talking down in the teens for that ice to thicken up to where we can put equipment on it," LaFave said.

According to a Madison Parks Division press release, the ice must be four to six inches thick before heavy machinery can plane the ice and ready it for public skating.

"Some of the ice may be safe for an individual to walk on, but if we're preparing ice for skating, we have heavy machinery we're taking out so you get a smooth surface," said LaFave. "The ice is not thick enough to support the machinery at this time."

While ice rinks currently prove problematic, sledding and cross country skiing trails boast excellent conditions.

"The snow did affect the skiing earlier in the week because we had to break through the crust to prepare a good base, but the skiing is now excellent," LaFave said.

According to a Madison Parks Division press release, cross country ski passes are now available for sale. Passes can be purchased at City of Madison Parks Division Administrative Office in Room 104 of the City County Building, and annual passes can also be purchased at the trail sites.