Without a doubt, The Department of Fun and Friends of the Parks created an asset for all ages, who are in pursuit of winter athletics. Morrison Winter Park was officially opened at 3:00 p.m., on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, to a crowd of youngsters and adults. This new attraction is in Waterworks Park, 503 W. Winfield Street, Morrison, IL, high above the Baseball field. For the occasion, Trent Bush installed his festive party lights along the ice rink fence and brought wood for fire pit. Music filled the frosty, 21-degree air. The opening event closed at 7:00 p.m.
The west road is the better entrance, for accessing parking, the skating rink, sledding hill, portable toilet, and picnic tables. Weets and Son Septic Service, Morrison, donated a portable toilet for the winter season.
Morrison Parks are open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The City authorized and paid for resuming electricity to two previous posts, for nighttime skating and sledding. Morrison business Nelson Electric handled that task.
Morrison residents Isabelle Ramirez, her 9-year-old son, Zarek, and Andrew Torrez brought hot cocoa. The lad said he would skate for the first time, but he already had been sledding here. “It’s fun.” When asked if the ground was lumpy, he replied, “Yes.” He gave the same answer when asked if he fell off. “This is my fifth day sledding!”
Left-to-right are Jayden Finley, 11, from Erie, IL; Morrison residents Emma Torrez, 13, and the Bush family–Trent, sister Lori, and mother, Gretchen.
Finley explained, “This is my grandma’s and grandpa’s truck” which held over two dozen pairs of ice skates for visitors to use. His relatives are Sally and Chuck Finley of Morrison, members of Friends of the Parks. Skating “is pretty fun,” the boy added
Torrez noted this was her first time ice skating, too. “It was really fun and a good experience. I’ll come again.” She sledded “a couple times” that afternoon. “I go every year with my friends. It’s fun. It’s a blast!”
The skating rink is 44′ by 88′ in size. Morrison Fire Department connected to a park hydrant and filled the space; they will respray to smooth the surface if needed. Bush and his father, Lyle, built the sturdy platform to access the ice. There were a couple tubular, steel, child trainers for use.
Left-to-right are Bush; Friends of the Parks members Glenn Ackeberg and Sally Finley; grandson Jayden Finley; FOTP Chuck Finley. Ackeberg and Sally Finley shoveled the rink in preparation for the next set of visitors.
Donations of ice skates and money to maintain this area resource are still being accepted. Checks may be made payable to “Morrison Winter Park” and mailed care/of Trent Bush, 501 S. Genesee Street, Morrison, IL, 61270.
Visit https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=morrisonwinterpark to acknowledge the sponsors and for information on days when the ice rink must be closed. Kindly share this press release with area friends and neighbors.