Chubbuck ice rink closes early for the season

The warmer temperatures have forced the outdoor ice rink in Chubbuck near Capell Park to close a few weeks earlier than planned. Some of the ice is starting to melt.

“Yesterday there was about a quarter of an inch of water on the top of the rink,” said Jim Disanza, president of the Pocatello/Chubbuck hockey association. “In fact, it was midway between ice rink and swimming pool.”

Disanza said with compressors, the ice rink can usually maintain the ice for a couple of weeks until colder temperatures come back. But with more warmer-than-usual temperatures in the forecast, it was too expensive to keep it up.

Disanza said it’s a blow to the community of Chubbuck to have to close it early. On Saturday nights, the rink would see anywhere from 170 to 200 people.

“That’s kind of what we’ve always enjoyed about putting the ice rink together,” Disanza said. “There was something fun and with ICCU’s help on Saturday nights – free, for the public to get outdoors and enjoy some actual physical activity. So it’s really depressing to have to shut down this early.”

Disanza said if they have to close the rink early again next year, they may have to look into the possibility of covering the rink.