Since 2005: More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.
With temperatures in the 50s, 60s, and maybe even hitting 70 this week as spring nears, Wellesley’s outdoor ice rink near the high school is closed for the season.
This year marked the return of the free outdoor recreation facility for the first time since 2018, and it got plenty of use over the past month or so thanks to the efforts of town employees, elected officials, and volunteers.
The rink, located on one of the basketball courts at the Hunnewell Field Complex off Rice Street, opened for the first time last week. Community members can sign up to receive information about the rink in a newsletter from the Wellesley Recreation Department. It’s open seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. while the weather allows (obviously, this week’s blizzard will be an issue…).
Matt Chin, the town’s Recreation Director, said the rink first opened about 10 years ago and lasted for a handful of years before shutting down. This year’s launch was organized in collaboration with Wellesley Parks, Water, and Fire Departments, as well as DPW.
Vishal Kuchaculla, a local parent, got together with other residents to clear the snow off the ice, noting that the snowfall had pushed the opening back a week or so. He said maintenance is “the only thing that the township asked” of the community.
There was also an issue with vandalism, which caused the opening to be delayed another few weeks. Kuchaculla said that someone threw a parking cone and tree branches onto the ice, where it then got lodged, and people were “walking and stomping on the ice” before it was fully frozen. In the future, Chin wants to make sure that they secure the site better while waiting for the rink to freeze.
Chin said he thinks the rink is important because it “provides a safe place for ice skating,” as the town “does not check local ponds” to see if they’re safe.
Kolea Zimmerman, another resident, said he heard about the rink through an email from the Recreation Department. He was there skating with his two young kids, but was otherwise alone. He said that the parking was confusing and inaccessible, with the lot near the rink being gated off (parking is available at the high school).
“It’s a little rough, but, you know, fun,” he said.
Zimmerman also said that he thinks that it would be beneficial to have some sort of skate rental system “to get more people out here.”
“There is nothing more special than skating outside,” he said. “I’d like this to be an annual thing, and it’s something that can be organic.”
This story was produced in partnership with the Boston University Department of Journalism.
The town of Wellesley on Tuesday set up its first outdoor skating rink since 2018, and now awaits some colder weather to freeze it.
The Recreation Department, Public Works, and Fire Department, plus resident volunteers, got the rink set up and filled on one of the basketball courts at Hunnewell Field (just east of the tennis courts, located at roughly 435 Washington St.)
Photos courtesy of Vishal Kuchaculla.
The town of Wellesley’s Recreation Department this week will set up a skating rink on one of the Hunnewell field basketball courts for the first time since 2018. The Department was set to assemble the rink and lay out sandbags on Monday, Jan. 12, and install the liner and fill the rinks on Tuesday, Jan. 13 after 11am.
An organizer behind youth hockey families seeking to get the rink installed, says if you’d like to volunteer on Tuesday morning, show up between 8-11am. You’ll need to sign a waiver when you get there.
Then we’ll just need the temps to drop…
Fortunately, their hosts have a sweet hot tub that quickly warmed up the plungers.
@swellesleyreport Plunging into 2026 in #Wellesley MA at Morses Pond #brrr #happynewyear ♬ original sound – swellesleyreport For those of us who showed up a wee bit late for the run, at least we had footprints to follow…
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We popped over to Guernsey Sanctuary last weekend to get in touch with nature, and see how the Wellesley Conservation Land Trust’s boardwalks project is coming along. Apparently the WCLT, stewards of the 25-acre property, located half in Wellesley and half in Needham, intend to keep the project a secret for now. At least visually. The three almost-completed boardwalks were hidden under fresh snowfall. Christo himself couldn’t have wrapped them up better. Stay tuned for the big reveal later this year.
Two things are true about Guernsey Sanctuary. First, the protected area is one of the towns’ best woodland walking spots. Second, a few of the trails tend toward muck during most seasons of the year. Thus, the boardwalks project. Once complete, the boardwalks will meander along over 300 feet of Guernsey Sanctuary’s muddiest trails. The addition of the boardwalks will keep hikers from veering off-trail and trampling ecologically sensitive areas in an effort to keep footwear mud-free.
If you’re bored this winter, adopt a board. WCLT will recognize donors who contribute at the “10 or more feet of boardwalk” level with a plaque on the starting board of that section.
Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com
The 15th annual—and still informal—Winter Soltice 5k+ Race on Sunday morning drew 44 humans and 5 dogs for 3 loops around the Elm Bank Reservation road.
Mild temperatures and blue skies prompted Solstice racers to gather post race for runner camaraderie, amazing homemade ginger hermits, munchkins and coffee cake.
Thanks to Sean Milano for sharing.
