An ice rink is coming to Naperville’s Block 59 dining and entertainment complex this holiday season and will be open from Nov. 20 to Jan. 18.
The rink will be built on top of the 7,200-square-foot green space located between the Yard House and Cheesecake Factory restaurants.
“Everybody in Chicago loves to be outdoors when they can. But it gets a little tough in the wintertime to figure out what to do with the green space,” said Rich Dippolito, vice president of redevelopment for project developer Brixmor Property Group.
“We decided this is something that we could bring to the Naperville area … and it could be something really fun for the community and be a great attraction for our center as well,” he said.
The group is partnering with the company Magic Ice, which sets up skating rinks at shopping centers and for municipalities around the country. For Block 59, located at Route 59 and Aurora Avenue, the company will begin building the rink over the turf area in early November and will also help with rink operations.
Dippolito said developers researched the skating idea in depth as the company contemplated how to take advantage of the dining/entertainment venue’s green spaces during the winter.
“When we were coming up with the concept for Block 59, we really thought that having a central green space would be something that would be well received, and we went to other projects around the country and saw how those were operating,” he said.
Among the places they studied were The Avenue at White Marsh in Baltimore, Maryland, and Avalon in Alpharetta, Georgia — shopping centers that also host seasonal outdoor rinks.
“There’s a lot of research that went into it because it is the first time we’re doing an ice rink,” Dippolito said. “Just from an infrastructure standpoint, how do we design the surrounding area to make sure all of that works effectively for the ice rink?”
He’s confident the rink will complement the complex, he said. The plan is for it to become an annual tradition.
“We’ve got a great operator coming in and we’re really excited,” he said. “We think it’s something that Naperville is really going to embrace.”
Opening day will include free admission although slots will be limited. After that, tickets can be purchased online or at the rink. Online reservations for skating sessions that last one hour and 45 minutes are currently available at theblock59.com/therink.
Tickets cost $14 for adults and $12 for children 12 and younger, seniors 50 and older, teachers, military, nurses and first responders. Rental skates will be available for $5.
The rink will be open seven days a week with reservation times available hourly from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
cstein@chicagotribune.com
