Jan. 10, 2026
VIROQUA, Wis. — The Viroqua Park and Recreation Committee addressed the absence of an outdoor ice rink this winter during its meeting Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, ultimately setting a deadline for favorable weather before canceling the season. The Park and Rec Department normally sets up an outdoor skating area in the parking area next to the main park office at the Park Bowl.
Park and Recreation Director Kale Proksch opened the discussion by noting that his department has received numerous inquiries from residents about why the rink is not yet open. He explained that the region has not experienced the consistent freezing temperatures required to maintain the ice.
“It’s been fluctuating up and down, and we haven’t had consistent temperatures in the teens to even try to flood it,” said Proksch. “We were hoping to flood it before Christmas, and then the snow came and we were plowing, and then after that, then it got warm, so we didn’t even flood it”.
Proksch told the committee that Viroqua is not alone in this struggle, noting that neighboring municipalities are facing similar challenges with weather and staffing priorities. He explained that when snow falls, his staff must prioritize plowing city facilities over maintaining recreational ice.
“In talking with other local communities like La Crosse, they actually flooded before Christmas and all theirs melted away,” said Proksch. “Sparta used to have one. They they don’t do an outdoor one anymore, because they have the indoor ice rink. And then Richland Center, they stopped theirs during COVID, and they don’t have one anymore”.
Proksch highlighted the structural challenges of the specific rink setup in Viroqua, which relies on the ground freezing rather than a synthetic liner.
“Ours is a little different than you see from just backyard, neighborhood people, they have liners,” said Proksch. “Ours is just a berm with gravel. So we haul down two, three loads of gravel from the Public Works, they help us, and then we berm it. And then we need frost to keep the water in”.
City Administrator Nate Torres suggested that the recurring weather issues may force the city to evaluate long term solutions for public skating. He noted that he has had conversations with Proksch and previous directors about the viability of the current system.
“I think we’re at the point here where we have to start looking at some other options,” said Torres. “Do we look at more options for indoor public skating? Do we look at technical assistance on how we might be able to get the outdoor rink more in a stable situation, or give it a better chance of making it throughout the year”.
The committee ultimately voted to set a deadline for the season. If the weather forecast does not show a period of extended cold suitable for flooding the rink by Feb. 1, the city will announce there will be no outdoor rink this year.
In other business, the committee established a construction timeline for the new Eckhart Park playground project. Proksch reported that the equipment vendor, Play By Design, requested a build week of Sept. 28 through Oct. 3. This schedule was selected to avoid conflicts with the Vernon County Fair and the Harvest Parade while ensuring the weather remains warm enough for volunteers.
The committee also discussed the closure of the existing wooden playground to allow for the salvage of materials and site preparation. Committee members agreed to post a notice that the park would close to give the public notice while allowing staff to begin necessary work.
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