AND JUST LIKE THAT... It's been an unusually warm winter, and thanks to those temperatures, outdoor ice rink season was short in Eau Claire.

Well … that was a short one. While Eau Claire Parks, Recreation and Forestry announced the opening of outdoor ice rinks on Saturday, Jan. 20, just six days later – on Friday, Jan. 26 – they announced those rinks are closed for the season.

The outdoor rinks – Roosevelt (908 Folsom St.), Pinehurst (3523 Delbert Road), Boyd (1202 Fairway St.), and Putnam Heights (530 W. Tyler Ave.) – and the corresponding warming shelters are now closed due to the warm temperatures and unsafe ice conditions.

“With the forecasted continuation of warm weather well into February, the rinks will continue to deteriorate too far to be able to rejuvenate before spring if the weather does change again,” the program announced in a Facebook post. “We appreciate everyone’s patience at the beginning of this winter and we look forward to more normal weather next winter so everyone can continue to enjoy the outdoor rinks.”

Folks looking to get more skating time in can still go to Hobbs Ice Arena (915 Menomonie St., Eau Claire) for public open skate times, held Wednesdays and Sundays.

Keep up with Eau Claire Parks, Recreation, and Forestry on Facebook.