STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO- With colder temperatures and snow making its appearance this weekend, the City of Steamboat Springs Parks & Recreation Department will be implementing a seasonal closure of the outdoor tennis courts at Howelsen Hill. 

Beginning on Monday, October 26, crews will remove the nets and lock the gates so that prep work for the new outdoor ice rinks can begin. While the new rinks likely won’t open for at least another month, crews will begin the process of preparing the slab and installing the rink liners, brackets and sideboards.

The new outdoor rinks will be available to the community for FREE from December through early March, weather conditions permitting. Public skate, figure skating and hockey will be available, however, the exact hours of operation are still being finalized.

While the rinks themselves will be managed by the Howelsen Ice Complex staff, all the funding for the project has been raised by private donors and community members who have made contributions through the Yampa Valley Community Foundation. Initial funding to kickstart the project was donated by several generous sponsors including:

• Steve and Jen Paoli

• Central Park Liquor

• HLCC Construction

• Space Station Gas

• Schmiggity’s

• Billo

• Elk River Real Estate

• Sandy Graves Art

  If other community members would like to support this project, donations are still being accepted through the Howelsen Capital Improvement Fund: Ice Arena, housed at the Yampa Valley Community Foundation (YVCF). Donations can be made online through the YVCF online portal or via check and dropped off at the Howelsen Ice Complex. Visit steamboatsprings.net/give for additional project details and donation instructions.