LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — With COVID-19 case numbers surging across the nation, many holiday traditions are changing.
Fortunately for people looking for an outdoor escape in Lexington, the ice rink returned this week to Triangle Park.
Of course, things are different in the park.
Ice Rink Manager Dennis Hyde says only about half of the seasonal rinks like this one around the nation are even returning to their venues this year.
To keep the rink safe for skaters they are taking extra precautions. They always disinfect rental skates but this year they are also disinfecting common areas like benches and railings.
"If you're in Kentucky, most people don't ice-skate or play hockey, so they hold on to the rail a lot. So we make sure every hour or, we are coming out here and sanitizing the rails around the rink," says Hyde.
The rink comes as a nice escape for skaters like Steve Hamrin who took his daughter to the park today. She hasn't been able to attend in-person classes yet, but doing outside activities feels like a safe and fun option.
"There's a lot of things we can't do inside but this a great one because you can do it outside," said Hamrin.
Hamrin is trying to enjoy small things that bring back a sense of normalcy and worries about another shut down in the future.
"It seems inevitable that there's going to be some sort of restrictions and more rules. If you look at the number of cases and you hear what's going on it just keeps going, it feels like we are probably going to have more strict things," says Hamrin.
