The Ankeny Brief
When the snow flies, Ankeny doesn't shut down - it just moves outside in a coat. There's a free community ice rink, sledding at the neighborhood park hills, and the skate park on dry cold days, plus warm indoor fallbacks for when it's just too much. Here's how to make an Iowa winter fun instead of endless.
Ice skate at Ankeny Parks & Rec's free outdoor community rink (hockey dawn-noon, open skate noon-dusk, weather permitting). Sled at neighborhood park hills after a good snow. Skate the Prairie Ridge Skate Park on dry days. Too cold? The library, coffee shops and restaurants keep you warm. The rink is weather-dependent - check the City of Ankeny's Facebook for open/closed status.
Ankeny Parks & Recreation runs a free outdoor community ice rink in the coldest months, split into hockey in the morning (dawn-noon) and open skate in the afternoon (noon-dusk). Because it's real outdoor ice, it's entirely weather-dependent - it stays open only while the ice holds. The city posts opening and closing updates on its Facebook page, so check there before you load up the skates.
Sledding: Ankeny doesn't officially designate one "sledding hill," so families head to the hills at neighborhood parks after a good snow. Pick a slope that's well clear of streets, ponds, trees and fences, and follow any posted park rules - the safe run matters more than the biggest one.
Skate park: on dry, cold days the Prairie Ridge Skate Park (1400 NW Prairie Ridge Dr) is open - a 30,000+ sq-ft outdoor park that's a good energy-burner when there's no snow to sled on.
The Kirkendall Public Library runs free kids' and family programs all winter and is open late most weekdays. Add Ankeny's coffee shops, breweries and restaurants and you've got a full cold-weather afternoon without freezing.
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It depends on the weather - the outdoor rink is only open while the ice stays frozen. The City of Ankeny posts current open/closed status on its Facebook page.
At the hills in Ankeny's neighborhood parks after a snow. There's no single official sledding hill, so choose a slope clear of roads, water and obstacles.
The Kirkendall Public Library's programs, plus local coffee shops, breweries and restaurants, are the go-to warm-up spots on the coldest days.
Parks & playgrounds · The library · The outdoors guide · Things to do