Riverwest People's Ice Rink

02/07/2026

Beautiful day to head on down to the river to skate or play broomball! ⛸️🌞🧊

01/31/2026

A couple neighbors got together and shovelled a skating area on the river! Feel free to come on down and enjoy! Have fun and be safe!

01/11/2025

Despite the optimism of our volunteers it is just too late in the season for construction to be feasible and sadly there won't be a rink this season. We will regroup and focus on our options for the future. Please support the other area ice rinks including Lake Park Friends , Lake Bluff Ice Rink and Humboldt Park Bay View Ice Skaters . Thank you everyone for your support, have a happy and safe winter and we will see you all next year!

07/26/2024

Have a wonderful People's Holiday!
Be safe, Don't Be a Jerk, take care of each other!

On the eve of this most blessed holiday, some words from your favorite Course Ops Mascot, Matt...

“2024 is shaping up to be a wildly distracting and chaotic year for this event. It is the largest race yet in terms of rider numbers. There are many many many new intersection volunteers who have not waved a noodle yet and will likely be a bit stressed out. There are going to be hundreds and hundreds of loud motorcycles, many ridden by folks from out-of-town who are looking for whatever bar or patio or event they're trying to get to and may not expect a couple thousand cyclists to be in the mix. There are going to be jets, also from out-of-town, tearing ass all over the sky making startlingly loud noises. Checkpoint 3 is a little bit different in configuration, and the Holton St. Viaduct is under construction meaning almost every rider will be taking the switchback route, increasing pressure at the intersections leading up Booth St.

I am not scared of the chaos, and I hope you as a rider or volunteer are not either. I am setting my expectations appropriately that there will likely be some sketchy moments, and I write this in the hopes that you will keep in mind the probabilities and do your part to minimize those. Do not throw yourself into traffic in hopes of standing on a box for a few moments. The intersection volunteers are told in no uncertain terms NOT TO DIRECT TRAFFIC. The pool noodles are just pointers, they will not save you.

Pay attention to your surroundings!
Watch for traffic!
Watch out for each other!
Wear your helmet!
Make sure you have a front and rear light and they're charged up!
Don't be a jerk! Have some empathy for those around you who may be confused, lost, tired, grumpy, scared, or bonked.
Share your knowledge!
Share your stoke!
Make some friends!
Make sure you lock up your bike. We have at least one bike theft every year. I hate that.

I hope you all take it easy, smell the daisies, linger at the bonuses, and cheer each other on.

Your Pal,
Matt”

07/26/2024

Your neighborhood is putting on all these fun bonuses for you, we wanted to make sure you know… you do not have to be a registered rider to slide in line and do them too! Come see what your neighbors are cookin.

04/29/2024

The state of the nation!

03/14/2024

Thanks to Jordan Baumhardt , the Fendt clan (particularly Phil), Mike and Mike, Blifert's, anonymous business and lots of others, helping with the People's Rink this year. Not the best year for skating, but we appreciate the effort.

03/11/2024

We finally have ice!

03/11/2024

Anyone lose their phone here this season?

03/10/2024

Taking down the rink this afternoon. We could use a couple helping hands if you are willing and able. Many hands make less work.

02/15/2024

Urgent need for shovelers: currently 1 person is trying to shovel the rink from today’s snow. It’s still possible to move the slush but it’s getting cold quick. Tomorrow could be a skating day if we get it cleaned tonight