Besides plenty of interesting tourist attractions, Grafton, North Dakota, also offers a wide array of sports and recreational activities throughout the year. If you enjoy playing hockey or figure skating, you can find many places to indulge in your favorite activity. Check out this list of indoor and outdoor ice-skating rinks in and around Grafton, courtesy of Rydell Cars.
Leistikow Park
Leistikow Park is one of the best options if you plan to go ice skating in winter with your family. This park features a relatively large outdoor rink that attracts skaters of all ages. The rink is only meant for recreational skating as it doesn’t allow hockey pucks and sticks. If you’re new to skating, you’ll feel right at home at this place because it’s a popular destination for inexperienced skaters and kids. When you feel like taking a break from the cold, you can rest in the warming house located next to the rink.
Other than ice skating, Leistikow Park provides excellent opportunities for many other activities. You can take a stroll or go for an intense run on one of several walking trails, do snowshoeing or cross-country skiing on the snow-covered trails, watch your children play at the playground, or spend a night or two at the campground. There are also a number of shelters where you can relax and enjoy the tranquil surroundings.
Leistikow Park is located at the northwestern part of Grafton on West 5th Street. Its outdoor skating rink is open until 11 p.m. every day.
Centennial Center
If you’re looking for a good place to play hockey in Grafton, head down to Centennial Center. Located on West 15th Street, this hockey arena is part of the Grafton High School campus, but it’s open to the public. It’s a clean and up-to-date facility with a fully equipped hockey rink. There’s a spectator viewing area on one side and a concession stand that offers a variety of food and beverages.
If you’re going to Centennial Center alone or with a couple of friends, it’s a good idea to join the pick-up hockey league, which holds games on a regular basis. On the other hand, if you have a large group of friends and want to organize your own games, you can rent the entire rink at a reasonable rate when it isn’t in use. Besides hockey games, the arena also hosts figure skating lessons and practice sessions.
Hill Avenue Outdoor Rink
Hill Avenue Outdoor Rink is probably the best outdoor hockey rink in Grafton because of its well-maintained surface and good amenities. It has a short brick wall along its perimeter to stop errant pucks, lights for evening games, and a warming house. Situated in Schumacher Park, this rink is open until 11 p.m. daily.
In the evening, you’ll find hockey players of all skill levels participating in pick-up games at Hill Avenue Outdoor Rink. As such, you’ll have many opportunities to enjoy some friendly competition and improve your hockey skills. At times when there aren’t hockey games going on, you can use the rink for recreational skating.
Dylan Arena
If you don’t mind taking a short drive out of town, you may want to check out Dylan Arena in Drayton. This outdoor rink is a busy place during winter evenings and weekends, attracting a large number of figure skaters and hockey players. You can practice your skating moves or play impromptu hockey games until late at night. This facility has an ice resurfacer to keep its rink floor smooth and a well-insulated warming house to provide shelter from the elements.
Dylan Arena is located in Schumacher Park on West Wallace Avenue in Drayton, which is about 15 miles northeast of Grafton. It’s open to the public at all times. While you’re at this outdoor rink, you should take the opportunity to enjoy the relaxing environment in Schumacher Park, which has a picnic area, shelters, a playground, a campground, and a veterans memorial.
Town Square Ice Rink
The Town Square in Grand Forks serves as the venue for a weekly farmers market and outdoor concerts in summer. However, during winter, it’s transformed into a wonderful multi-purpose ice rink that draws skating enthusiasts from near and far. This rink features a flat and even surface, benches for changing into skates, skate helpers for beginners, lights for night-time skating, and an awesome snow fort designed by accomplished local artist Adam Kemp. It’s sizable enough to accommodate more than 60 skaters and suitable for both skating and hockey.
Located on Demers Avenue in downtown Grand Forks, which is about 40 miles southeast of Grafton, Town Square Ice Rink is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends. There’s no admission fee, but you can contribute to the donation box near the rink. The great thing about skating at the Town Square Ice Rink is that you can conveniently visit the famous attractions and enjoy the great shopping and dining opportunities in the downtown area.
ICON Sports Center
If you want to ice skate or play hockey in a well-equipped, advanced facility, you should go to ICON Sports Center in Grand Forks, home of the Rydell Ice Sheet. This state-of-the-art arena is one of the leading venues for local, regional, national, and international skating competitions and hockey tournaments. It features two NHL-sized hockey rinks, hundreds of seats at each rink, a community room with a viewing deck, two training rooms, lower and upper concessions areas, and a pro shop. The facility is open to the public year-round and offers ice rentals when it isn’t hosting any competition or special events.
ICON Sports Center is situated on 47th Avenue in South Grand Forks. It’s open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.
Contact Rydell Cars
So, that’s the list of the best ice skating rinks around Grafton from the staff at Rydell Cars. If you know another great ice rink in the area that we didn’t mention, feel free to contact us and let us know. We’ll surely add it to our list.
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