8 artificial ice-skating fields open in Helsinki

The Helsinki City has opened eight artificial ice rinks and fields for people from Saturday, said a press release on Friday.

On the Independence Day (Sunday) all eight ice rinks and fields will remain open with extended opening hours from 9:00 and 21:00 with one hour maintenance break from 15:00 to 16:00.

The authority, however, specified the maximum number of skaters in the backdrop of the increasing number of coronavirus infections at the capital region.

The changing rooms and service buildings will remain closed excepting for the toilet facilities, which means that skates must be put on outdoor benches.

It has already been possible to enjoy skating on the artificial ice rinks and fields of Oulunkylä, Kontula, Lassila, Pukinmäki, Käpylä and Lauttasaari, and on Saturday also the artificial ice rinks of Brahenkenttä and Laajasalo will be opened to the residents.

In this winter season, skating is completely free of charge for the first time on all artificial ice rinks and fields of the City, and unpaid public skating time slots are available on each day of the week.

This year, however, there will be no artificial ice field in Rautatientori.

The authority limited the maximum number at Brahenkenttä artificial ice field 150 persons, Kontula sports park artificial ice field 120 persons, Käpylä sports park artificial ice field 120 persons, Käpylä sports park artificial ice rink 30 persons, Laajasalo sports park artificial ice rink 30 persons, Lassila sports park artificial ice rink 30 persons, Lauttasaari sports park artificial ice rink 40 persons, Oulunkylä artifcial ice field 300 persons, Pukinmäki sports park artificial ice rink 30 persons and Jätkäsaari sports park artificial ice field 150 persons.

Safe distances must be kept at outdoor sports facilities, and people are allowed to use the facilities only when healthy.

Monitoring and the presence of youth instructors will be increased on the outdoor fields for the validity period of the new coronavirus-related restrictions.

Personnel will monitor compliance with the user number restrictions on the artificial ice rinks and fields, and it might be necessary to wait for being allowed onto the ice during the busiest hours.