John McCleary, special projects director for Anchorage's Parks & Recreation department, described Westchester Lagoon as "a diamond in the rough for this weekend. The ice will have had only a couple of hot mopping treatments by today, with the burn barrels, wood and benches tentatively delivered next week."
Other skating areas have been open for months, but Westchester Lagoon's opening was delayed after it was drained in late fall to allow work on a weir at the west end of the lagoon near the Alaska Railroad tracks. That work was aimed at better managing floodwaters along Chester Creek and helping restore a small salmon run up the creek.
In addition, the Town Square Winter Center rink will have its first Sunday skate beginning at 1 p.m. this week.
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