Readying the rink

The Lights begins monthlong process to secure ice for upcoming hockey, skating

By Wendy Reuer | West Fargo Pioneer

WEST FARGO — It may still be a month away but the process of adding ice to the Essentia Health Plaza at The Lights is underway. And, soon, the cool place to meet up on West Fargo’s south side will be ready to host skating and hockey games for the winter.

West Fargo Events Executive Director Mike Amundson said the ice installation has been coming along as the boards are up, bases and anchors are in place and the manifold is connected.

Soon, thousands of gallons of glycol will be pumped into the area, which will help keep the ice cool, followed by a tiller system and finally, weather dependent, water will be pumped in, ready to freeze over.

“From there, we play the weather game a little bit, we’ll pump water overnight to use the cold temps to help it along, and then during the day, we take a break and then repeat again the following night,” Amundson said.

Enough water will be pumped into the open air rink to create five inches of ice, which will remain throughout the winter and be ready in time to host a packed calendar of events.

“Weather does affect the building process. We can maintain the ice when we have 50 or 60 degrees, but when we are making ice, the weather does play a role depending on how cold it gets,” Amundson said.

He and West Fargo Events staff are shooting for a 2022-2023 opening on the first weekend of December.

“If we can be open earlier, we will,” he said.

After the opening will be a Dec. 3 figure skating show followed by a number of corporate events and “Skate with Santa,” a joint event to be held Dec. 18 with West Fargo Park District.

But the real draw for those out of town will be the last part of December when the rink and West Fargo Events hosts the West Fargo Winter Classic, a hockey tournament hosted by West Fargo high schools and youth teams from five states, Dec. 27 to Jan. 1.

Amundson said he hopes the rink can remain open through late spring for open skating.

“We will almost assuredly be open through February, and we will try to be open through March if we can,” he said. “If we’re in the 40s and 50s in March, it’s still very manageable.

Even if it’s 50 or 60, the top of the ice will melt and it will look like a lake during the day, but at night it will be frozen again.”

More than 56,000 skaters have visited The Lights ice rink since it opened. Amundson said the community response to West Fargo’s latest attraction has been terrific.

Instead of celebrating small business Saturday, throughout the month of November, West Fargo events will offer punch passes of skate rental for the plaza that include eight punches for $25. Regular priced punch cards allow six punches for $25.

Punch cards can be picked up from the community room at The Lights from any West Fargo staff. Punch cards are valid through the season.

Readers can reach West Fargo editor Wendy Reuer at wreuer@ forumcomm.com or 701-241-5530. Follow her on Twitter @ForumWendy.

Rick Clemenson from West Fargo speaks to WDAY News’ Kevin Wallevand about his time judging a crazy sock contest at Sanford Health.

Ryan Longnecker / West Fargo Pioneer