I built my first backyard rink this winter in Sussex County NJ. An elevation of 1200'+ enables me to keep ice a bit longer. I went with a straightforward approach this year, 1' plywood strips, paving stones for support and a roofing tarp. My rink's dimensions are 20'x55' which is perfect for my 6yo and his buddies. Opening day was New Years Day. I have rigged up some stadium lighting to allow us to play in the evenings after work/school.

Welcome to the forum. Nice work! The smiles are how you know you're doing it right.

Keep us posted on how long you have ice. Blue tarps are generally thought to attract more sun later in the season, though I've never personally used one. I'd love to hear how long you keep good ice.

Also, fill out your profile with you rink size, parts, and location, so we can better answer your questions in the future. Thanks!

Here is an updated image of our rink from a week or so ago. With the heavy snow that fell yesterday I made a ramp and got my snowblower onto the ice which made quick work of the snow. Looking back at the first pic, I am amazed how clear my ice was. Now it is much more cloudy.

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