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A worker tests out the Zamboni on Lehi’s new ice skating rink Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. The rink will have its grand opening Friday, Nov. 24, and will stay open until Jan. 26, 2024.

Nichole Whiteley, Daily Herald

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Lehi’s new ice skating rink will have its grand opening Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, and will stay open until Jan. 26, 2024. On Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, workers were at the rink preparing it for the grand opening.

Nichole Whiteley, Daily Herald

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Lehi City workers on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, prepare for the grand opening of the new ice skating rink, happening Friday, Nov. 24. The rink will stay open until Jan. 26, 2024.

Nichole Whiteley, Daily Herald

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Lehi’s new ice skating rink, located at the Lehi Sports Complex, has two bleachers, several heaters and benches, and a concessions stand. The grand opening of the ice rink will be on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, and it will stay open until Jan. 26, 2024.

Nichole Whiteley, Daily Herald

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A worker tests out the Zamboni on Lehi’s new ice skating rink Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. The rink will have its grand opening Friday, Nov. 24, and will stay open until Jan. 26, 2024.

Nichole Whiteley, Daily Herald

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Lehi’s new ice skating rink will hold its grand opening this Friday and all are welcome to attend.

The ice skating rink will remain open until Jan. 26 of next year. Lehi officials are hoping for the ice rink to become a yearly tradition but will take into account the community response they see this first year, said Shawn Winters, Lehi City Parks Department assistant director.

“I am excited to have this new offering to the citizens of Lehi,” Mayor Mark Johnson stated in a press release. “Ice skating in Utah County created many fond memories for me as a child and I expect many will recognize this as a great opportunity to introduce their children to the fun activity.”

Outside of the ice rink are two sets of bleachers and several benches and heaters. Christmas lights have been strung up around the area where concessions will be served and a Christmas tree made of lights is positioned on the side of the rink. The addition of Christmas music adds to the ambiance that Lehi City hopes to create at the ice rink to draw in people from Lehi and surrounding cities, Winters said. The concessions will sell hot chocolate, Lehi Bakery square donuts, water, gloves and socks. Each item will be $2.

Public skating will be open Monday through Friday from 5-10 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The rink is closed on Sundays and on Christmas. On the Alpine School District’s winter break, the ice rink will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The ice rink will be fully staffed during public skating hours. In addition, the rink is available for reservations Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 8-10:30 a.m. The full calendar can be found at www.lehi-ut.gov/legacy-center/lehi-ice-rink.

The press release said the 5,000-square-foot ice rink “is an engineered aluminum floor with a chiller sized to make a substantial amount of ice during the entire period of the skating season.” The ice rink is located at the Lehi Sports Complex, 2000 W. 700 South, on the baseball diamond, which was protected through careful preparation before the ice rink was created, the release states.

Lehi City contracted Ice America to build the portable ice rink for $250,000. The startup costs came from city reserve funds, according to Jeanteil Livingston, Lehi City communications manager. “We are hopeful all costs associated with the ice rink will be recovered through user fees,” she said.

Admission to the ice rink for all ages is $7 per person and ice skates are $5. For groups of 10 or more people, there are discounted rates.

As a park staff, Winters explained they were looking for something to provide the Lehi community during the winter when the parks are usually closed. They had spoken to a different city that started an ice skating rink and Winters said as they were talking together, “They just were going on about how magical it was and how much it brought the community together. That’s kind of what sparked the wheel.” He added there has been involvement from departments across the city to make the ice rink a reality this winter.

The press release states, “Ice skating lessons will be taught through the Learn to Skate program provided by Learn to Skate USA. The program offers a standardized curriculum designed to help skaters of all ages and abilities master the basics of ice skating. Learn to Skate is providing 7 instructors from around the state to teach lessons for Lehi. To register for skate lessons, visit https://lehilegacycenter.activityreg.com/.”

The lessons cost $68 per person. There are three two-week sessions throughout the season, which consist of twice-a-week lessons, Livingston explained.

The grand opening will include a show by professional figure skaters who are instructors of the Learn to Skate program and speeches by city leaders and sponsors before the rink opens to the public for the first time. The opening of the rink comes at the end of Lehi Family Week. As part of the weeklong celebration, the first 200 people at the ice skating rink Friday who mention they are there for Lehi Family Week will receive a free Lehi beanie. No purchase or admission is necessary, and one beanie will be given per family.

On Saturday, there will be a station at the ice rink to write letters to Santa Claus and an ornament-making station from noon to 2 p.m.

Livingston said at both of these events those participating can mention they are there for Family Week to enter a raffle for the chance to win an Xbox Series S.

In addition to the two events this weekend, activities will be held at the ice skating rink all winter long.

On Dec. 9 from 2-4 p.m., there will be story time with Santa and cookies.

Jingle Jangle Jubilee will be held Dec. 15 from 5-9 p.m. and on Dec. 16 from noon to 8 p.m. All events will be held at the ice skating rink/park. More information is available on the Lehi City Facebook page.