
Watch our Facebook for updates on our plans,
due to COVID rules or weather.
Click for: Friends of Hoyt Park Facebook info
If we are able to open, these are the safe plans as of December 24, 2020:
❖ Outhouses will be used outside instead of opening the indoor restrooms.
❖ Skates will be rented from a tent outside of the warming house
❖ Hot Chocolate will be made inside, but transferred to thermos containers and served outside by volunteers with masks and gloves
❖ Prepackaged snacks will be distributed from the same outside tent
.
due to COVID rules or weather.
Click for: Friends of Hoyt Park Facebook info
If we are able to open, these are the safe plans as of December 24, 2020:
❖ Outhouses will be used outside instead of opening the indoor restrooms.
❖ Skates will be rented from a tent outside of the warming house
❖ Hot Chocolate will be made inside, but transferred to thermos containers and served outside by volunteers with masks and gloves
❖ Prepackaged snacks will be distributed from the same outside tent
.
Can We Skate and Sled Today?

Photo 12-31-12 was shared by Angie H.
General Rules of Thumb
1. Park closed signs are covered up only when we are there to supervise. People at all times are sledding/skating at own risk.
2. The warming house is only opened on a limited basis.
See our winter schedule below for this season.
3. Skate rental for $2/pair is only available when the warming house is scheduled open AND requires a valid ID or Driver's license.
4. Hockey nets are provided only when warming house open.
5. We put water down when it looks bad. Examples:
a. slight snow-it freezes into ice and gets it crusty
b. People skate on warmer day and make cuts in ice and then it freezes and causes bumpy slits.
6. Please stay off if slushy or it tears ice up.
7. Please stay off if ice too thin even if there is ice under water.
8. Colder weather water freezes solid in couple hours, warmer days can take up to 8 hours.
9. It is important to get snow off before over 30 degree day melts snow into ice. If you have brooms, shovels or walk-behind snowblower please help clear off the rest of ice area. Please NO snowplow trucks though.
VOLUNTEERS are needed during all seasons:
Call or text Larry at (989) 284-0945 if you would like to volunteer for Friends of Hoyt Park.
We need 10 volunteers to open the warming house.
It takes 5 volunteers to keep ice in good shape.
1. Park closed signs are covered up only when we are there to supervise. People at all times are sledding/skating at own risk.
2. The warming house is only opened on a limited basis.
See our winter schedule below for this season.
3. Skate rental for $2/pair is only available when the warming house is scheduled open AND requires a valid ID or Driver's license.
4. Hockey nets are provided only when warming house open.
5. We put water down when it looks bad. Examples:
a. slight snow-it freezes into ice and gets it crusty
b. People skate on warmer day and make cuts in ice and then it freezes and causes bumpy slits.
6. Please stay off if slushy or it tears ice up.
7. Please stay off if ice too thin even if there is ice under water.
8. Colder weather water freezes solid in couple hours, warmer days can take up to 8 hours.
9. It is important to get snow off before over 30 degree day melts snow into ice. If you have brooms, shovels or walk-behind snowblower please help clear off the rest of ice area. Please NO snowplow trucks though.
VOLUNTEERS are needed during all seasons:
Call or text Larry at (989) 284-0945 if you would like to volunteer for Friends of Hoyt Park.
We need 10 volunteers to open the warming house.
It takes 5 volunteers to keep ice in good shape.
Sponsor a Winter Event
Contact Larry Brethauer (989) 284-0945 to arrange.
Donate $1,000 to sponsor an event. This covers ball diamond lights - they cost $50 for each hour on, warming house heat & lights, extra plowing of snow off ice & lower road & tractor to buff ice for skating & extra coat of water to make new ice surface if needed. Snow blow lower level cements & steps. This also helps cover free hot chocolate, cookies.
Donate $1,000 to sponsor an event. This covers ball diamond lights - they cost $50 for each hour on, warming house heat & lights, extra plowing of snow off ice & lower road & tractor to buff ice for skating & extra coat of water to make new ice surface if needed. Snow blow lower level cements & steps. This also helps cover free hot chocolate, cookies.
It Was Official - REOPENED! - Ribbon Cutting Day January 19, 2013

More Friends of Hoyt Park News ...

Click to see the article on M-Live
Click for another update
October 2012: Ice Skating Returns
January 2013: Bringing Back the Ice
Click for another update
October 2012: Ice Skating Returns
January 2013: Bringing Back the Ice