Maggie Daley Park Ice Skating Ribbon on Postcard

"Maggie Daley is a newest addition to Chicago’s great collection of public parks, and the new skating ribbon is an instant favorite. It’s a friendly spot for beginners and families. Free with your own skates but you can also rent a pair. It’s great destination year-round: when it’s too warm for ice skates the climbing wall is open to those who want a vertical challenge." - IA Collaborative

On the Grid : Maggie Daley Skate Ribbon

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@travelleisure

"Get out on the water or spend your days exploring museums and galleries, depending on what suits your fancy. And no worries if your birthday's in the winter: after ice skating along the Maggie Daley Park Ice Skating Ribbon, you can warm up with a piping-hot deep-dish pizza, a Chicago classic." - Travel + Leisure Editors

20 Best Birthday Trip Ideas for Every Type of Traveler

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@onthegrid

"Maggie Daley Skate Ribbon, Loop. Maggie Daley is a newest addition to Chicago’s great collection of public parks, and the new skating ribbon is an instant favorite. It’s a friendly spot for beginners and families. Free with your own skates but you can also rent a pair. It’s great destination year-round: when it’s too warm for ice skates the climbing wall is open to those who want a vertical challenge."

Chicago

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James

Google

A unique experience compared to your classic ice skating rink as one is able to go in a lovely loop. There are uphills and downhills and the path is actually quite wide, so it never felt too crowded. They play pop songs from the 2010s while one skates. HOWEVER, the quality of the ice is subpar at best. I found it to be scuffed up, slushy, and not well-maintained. One can bring their own skates and pay $5 for a session or skate for free during the 11 AM session. Note that it is recommended to make reservations ahead of time as sometimes it can be quite busy. Even with a reservation, one will still need to wait in a long line to check-in and receive their skates. We waited half an hour just to get on the ice! There are two porto-potties for bathrooms, a small cafe, and no lockers for shoes, but the area is rather safe for no shoes to get stolen.

Brad Mason

Google

Always a great time. It's in front of my office so I just go down after work. If you have your own skates, it's free (I play hockey so have my own skates).

Maya N

Google

Reservation required. Staff was courteous and accommodating when I tried 3 different pairs of skates to find the size that was comfortable for me. Skating around the ribbon was a unique and fun experience. One part was just very very slightly downhill, and that made it fun to skate through :)

Gina Jones

Google

We visited in late Spring for an Adaptive Climbing Expo. The skating ribbon goes around the climbing walls. My sons had a great time. The park district staff were pleasant and helpful. In the winter, we plan to go ice skating and sled skating. I am thrilled that more than one sled skate is available for rental. My only issue is bathroom access. There is no changing table large enough for an adult. Not all wheelchair users are continent, able to catheterize themselves or self-transfer to the toilet. My younger son is one of those young adults that needs to be changed. Also, a larger changing table can be used for babies, kids, and adults.

Naomi Easley

Google

I absolutely love coming here to ice skate! The main reasons are: 1. It is a track/loop, not a typical rink 2. It slopes up and down slightly so you can pick up a little speed without moving your feet. 3. It is free Monday-Thursday for those with their own skates, Friday- Sunday it is $5 4. The backdrop at night with the lights and the skyline is gorgeous! This was my first time back since COVID so some things changed, like you can book/ reserve your time in advance. The skate rental is outside in a container right next to the track instead of inside. I would recommend reserving your time online since you are guaranteed a spot and it is $2 cheaper if you need skates. They tend to sell out on weekends and Friday nights. They have lockers inside that you can rent for $3/$5 for 3 hours at a time, otherwise you need to figure out where you are going to put your shoes and other items. You can rent penguin ice skating helpers that you hold on to as you go around the loop. They come in child and adult sizes.

Katie Laskowska

Google

Love this spot. Open fairly late for a week night, the pricing is fantastic, the view of the city is one of a kind. I parked below the park and got a discounted rate online. Recommend doing the same.

Britney Serafina

Google

This is a beautiful rink within the park with a very cool rock wall in the middle. I would not recommend this place if you are new to ice skating. It gets really busy and cramped and you need to be able to keep pace. There is a rail, but it not super tall. The park recommend for us to be there 45 minutes early, and we did. However, we ended up sitting around for 30 minutes as there was no one at the check-in booth. 30 minutes early is plenty of time. You can get skate rentals, locker rentals, and guide rentals for children at this location. If possible, bring your own skates as it is cheaper to get in the rink that way and you won't have to wear skates that don't fit correctly. Here there is a cafe if you get hungry or thirsty, but it is higher priced. I spent $7 on two water bottles. Bring water!

S. D.

Google

Definitely recommend. I learned that for weekend mid-day and evening times the tickets sell out the week before. The ribbon is fun to skate, went there at earliest time it opened on Sunday at 11. It was quite crowded within 30 minutes. Also the ice was all dented within those same 30 minutes, can't imagine how it would be the last 30 minutes of the reserved session (11-1). But they do close it every 2 hours to smooth it out. Definitely suggest getting at the earliest time during your reserved session. Overall it was fun though.

James

Google

A unique experience compared to your classic ice skating rink as one is able to go in a lovely loop. There are uphills and downhills and the path is actually quite wide, so it never felt too crowded. They play pop songs from the 2010s while one skates. HOWEVER, the quality of the ice is subpar at best. I found it to be scuffed up, slushy, and not well-maintained. One can bring their own skates and pay $5 for a session or skate for free during the 11 AM session. Note that it is recommended to make reservations ahead of time as sometimes it can be quite busy. Even with a reservation, one will still need to wait in a long line to check-in and receive their skates. We waited half an hour just to get on the ice! There are two porto-potties for bathrooms, a small cafe, and no lockers for shoes, but the area is rather safe for no shoes to get stolen.

Brad Mason

Google

Always a great time. It's in front of my office so I just go down after work. If you have your own skates, it's free (I play hockey so have my own skates).

Maya N

Google

Reservation required. Staff was courteous and accommodating when I tried 3 different pairs of skates to find the size that was comfortable for me. Skating around the ribbon was a unique and fun experience. One part was just very very slightly downhill, and that made it fun to skate through :)

Gina Jones

Google

We visited in late Spring for an Adaptive Climbing Expo. The skating ribbon goes around the climbing walls. My sons had a great time. The park district staff were pleasant and helpful. In the winter, we plan to go ice skating and sled skating. I am thrilled that more than one sled skate is available for rental. My only issue is bathroom access. There is no changing table large enough for an adult. Not all wheelchair users are continent, able to catheterize themselves or self-transfer to the toilet. My younger son is one of those young adults that needs to be changed. Also, a larger changing table can be used for babies, kids, and adults.

Naomi Easley

Google

I absolutely love coming here to ice skate! The main reasons are: 1. It is a track/loop, not a typical rink 2. It slopes up and down slightly so you can pick up a little speed without moving your feet. 3. It is free Monday-Thursday for those with their own skates, Friday- Sunday it is $5 4. The backdrop at night with the lights and the skyline is gorgeous! This was my first time back since COVID so some things changed, like you can book/ reserve your time in advance. The skate rental is outside in a container right next to the track instead of inside. I would recommend reserving your time online since you are guaranteed a spot and it is $2 cheaper if you need skates. They tend to sell out on weekends and Friday nights. They have lockers inside that you can rent for $3/$5 for 3 hours at a time, otherwise you need to figure out where you are going to put your shoes and other items. You can rent penguin ice skating helpers that you hold on to as you go around the loop. They come in child and adult sizes.

Katie Laskowska

Google

Love this spot. Open fairly late for a week night, the pricing is fantastic, the view of the city is one of a kind. I parked below the park and got a discounted rate online. Recommend doing the same.

Britney Serafina

Google

This is a beautiful rink within the park with a very cool rock wall in the middle. I would not recommend this place if you are new to ice skating. It gets really busy and cramped and you need to be able to keep pace. There is a rail, but it not super tall. The park recommend for us to be there 45 minutes early, and we did. However, we ended up sitting around for 30 minutes as there was no one at the check-in booth. 30 minutes early is plenty of time. You can get skate rentals, locker rentals, and guide rentals for children at this location. If possible, bring your own skates as it is cheaper to get in the rink that way and you won't have to wear skates that don't fit correctly. Here there is a cafe if you get hungry or thirsty, but it is higher priced. I spent $7 on two water bottles. Bring water!

S. D.

Google

Definitely recommend. I learned that for weekend mid-day and evening times the tickets sell out the week before. The ribbon is fun to skate, went there at earliest time it opened on Sunday at 11. It was quite crowded within 30 minutes. Also the ice was all dented within those same 30 minutes, can't imagine how it would be the last 30 minutes of the reserved session (11-1). But they do close it every 2 hours to smooth it out. Definitely suggest getting at the earliest time during your reserved session. Overall it was fun though.

Maggie Daley Park Ice Skating Ribbon

Maggie Daley Park Ice Skating Ribbon

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Highlights

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