How to Build a Backyard Ice Skating Rink

In areas where winters typically bring subfreezing temperatures for months at a time, building a backyard ice skating rink is simple. Basically, all it involves is digging a shallow pit in the ground, lining it with plastic sheeting and filing it with water. Mother Nature pretty much takes over from there.

Things You'll Need

  • Shovels
  • Plastic sheeting
  • Water hose
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Dig a shallow pit no more than 8 inches deep in the center, tapering up to ground level around the edges. Give the pit the diameter you desire for the finished ice skating rink. Dig the pit before the ground freezes.

    • 2

      Line the pit with plastic sheeting. Use one solid sheet of plastic, if possible, to avoid having a seam. If it is necessary to lay more than one plastic sheet, start at the edges of the pit and work toward the center. Overlap the sheets at least 3 feet to reduce leakage.

    • 3

      Wait for cold weather. Choose a night (or day) when temperatures will drop well below 32 degrees Fahrenheit and are anticipated to remain below freezing for some time to come. Fill the pit with water from a garden hose, placing the hose in the center of the pit. Remove hose and put into storage once the pit is full.

    • 4

      Let Mother Nature take over. If air temperatures are below freezing for at least 24 hours, your pit will freeze solid. The fact that the frozen water can expand easily around the edges of your pit should keep the surface smooth and level.