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Ice skating rink may reopen at noon today

BARBARALLEN KOCH PHOTO  |  The temporary ice rink at Stotzky Park was closed after temperatures rose above freezing. But it may reopen for a few hours Sunday.
BARBARALLEN KOCH PHOTO | The temporary ice rink at Stotzky Park was closed after temperatures rose above freezing. But it may reopen for a few hours Sunday.

Riverhead residents and even some out-of-towners enjoyed five straight days of ice skating at Stotzky Park when the weather dipped below 20 degrees last week. The rink is now locked but Councilman George Gabrielsen said he was hoping that the below freezing overnight temperatures will allow the rink to reopen for a few hours Sunday.

The town’s recreation department is expected to check the ice at noon today. If frozen enough, the rink will reopen at that time.

Temperatures are forecast to hover around 32 degrees and overnight to dip in the 20s for the next five days. Mr. Gabrielsen said he will ask the fire department if necessary to spray down the surface to smooth out the ice.

Recreation Department director Ray Coyne said the rink will likely be open again once it freezes.

“It’s going to be hit or miss,” he said. “I was very impressed with the amount of people who came out to enjoy the skating.”

The department said it will provide updates via Facebook on the Riverhead Parks and Recreation page.

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