Winter in Ankeny: ice skating, sledding, and what to do when it's cold.

Where can you ice skate in Ankeny?

At the community rink in Sunrise Park, 506 SE Peterson Drive. The Iowa Wild and Wells Fargo donated it, and it's small: 80 by 40 feet, against 200 by 85 for a regular hockey rink. It only exists when the weather cooperates, so there's no opening date to circle. Trust the sign at the rink: green means skate, red means closed. The city's rink page also posts its status, and as of Nov. 1 it reads closed for the season.

Nobody supervises the ice and you skate at your own risk. The city encourages helmets, bans food, drinks and pets on the ice, and asks you not to skate once the ice has melted or been damaged, because that wrecks the rink. Report damage to Ankeny Parks at 515-965-3578. One planning note: the city closes the Sunrise Park restrooms for the season in the fall, so go before you go.

Where can you go sledding in Ankeny?

Start with Summerbrook Park, 800 SE Delaware Ave. Of the city's park listings, it's the one we found with sledding on its features list, and it also has a parking lot and a playground for the kid who gets bored. Plenty of families use other neighborhood park hills after a good snow, but no other park we checked is marked for it, so pick those with care: stay clear of streets, ponds, trees and fences, and follow any posted rules. The city also warns against letting kids play in snow piles along the street, where plows work.

Can I park on the street when it snows in Ankeny?

Not during a declared snow ordinance. Once the city calls one for snow, sleet, freezing rain or blowing snow, every public street, alley and on-street space is off limits until the city ends it. Break that and it's a $40 ticket, and possibly a tow. You'll hear about it by text alert (sign up on the city's Snow and Ice Control page), the alert bar on its website, its Facebook page and local news. Texts only go out when an ordinance starts, so check Facebook or the site for the end. Details are in our snow ordinance guide.

• The District at Prairie Trail and Uptown: no parking from 2 to 6 a.m. during an ordinance.
• Narrow streets: parts of SW Des Moines Street and the median section of SW Prairie Trail Parkway can't have parked cars whenever snow or ice is falling or drifting, ordinance or not.
• Sidewalks: property owners clear them within 24 hours after the snow stops. Fines are possible.
• Hydrants: keep them clear, and don't blow snow onto them.
• Cul-de-sacs: plows may push snow over your sidewalk. The city says you aren't expected to clear that pile.

What's open outside on a dry winter day?

City parks stay open all year, sunrise to sunset, though restrooms and fountains shut down each fall and portable toilets get pulled. The Prairie Ridge Skate Park at 1400 NW Prairie Ridge Drive (next to the aquatic center) has over 9,000 square feet of concrete, with a bowl, quarter pipes and rails, and it's an easy energy burner when there's no snow. See our parks and trails guides.

What is there to do indoors in Ankeny in winter?

Our first stop is the Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library at 1250 SW District Drive, 515-965-6460: Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. Holiday hours matter here. It closes at 5 p.m. on Nov. 25 and Dec. 31, and it's closed Nov. 26 and 27 and Dec. 24 and 25. After that, Ankeny's coffee shops, breweries and restaurants fill out the afternoon, and the holiday lights guide covers the drive home.

Winter in Ankeny: your questions

Is there ice skating in Ankeny, Iowa?

Yes. Ankeny Parks and Recreation has a free outdoor community rink at Sunrise Park, 506 SE Peterson Drive. Hockey runs sunrise to noon and open skating runs noon to sunset, whenever the ice is frozen.

Is the Ankeny ice rink open right now?

It depends on the weather. A green sign at the rink means it's suitable for skating and a red sign means closed. The city's rink page also posts the status.

Is the Ankeny ice rink free?

Yes, it's free for public use. Bring your own skates, because the rink isn't staffed or supervised and you skate at your own risk.

Where can you go sledding in Ankeny?

Summerbrook Park, 800 SE Delaware Ave., is the park we found with sledding on its city features list. Families also use other neighborhood park hills, so check that any slope is clear of streets, ponds, trees and fences.

What happens if I park on the street during an Ankeny snow ordinance?

You can get a $40 ticket and your vehicle may be towed. The ban covers all public streets, alleys and on-street parking until the city officially ends it.

How soon do I have to shovel my sidewalk in Ankeny?

Within 24 hours after the snow has stopped falling. Clearing sidewalks on or next to your property is the property owner's job, and fines may be issued.

What is there to do in Ankeny in winter?

Skate the free rink at Sunrise Park, sled at Summerbrook Park after a snow, and use the Prairie Ridge Skate Park on dry days. When it's too cold, the Kirkendall Public Library, coffee shops, breweries and restaurants are the warm options.