Went ice skating as a family for my step-daughter's December birthday. We lucked out with it being…read morea mild winter day and had a very enjoyable experience. Since this was our second rink of the day, because the first one had faux ice and wasn't what we had in mind, it is worth saying that Brenton Skating Plaza has real ice! I did not notice while we were there that they do not zamboni it, but it all still seemed pretty smooth. It was busy and seemed to be a popular spot. You can rent your skates there and they also have personnel working on the ice. My favorite part is the downtown views from the rink - I can only imagine how magical it looks in the evening after dark. There are also great photo spots with the downtown backdrop and also a large Christmas tree. This will now be a annual thing for me.

It is summer time at the skating plaza. I have been ice…read moreskating here a few years ago. It was nice. Lots of people and good music. Tonight there was no ice, only red hot music concert! Since I was last here they installed a beautiful canopy over the plaza. So you can hang out on the arena under shade. The concert was Foster the People. We were excited. We arrived super early and went out to eat prior. Then made our way to the concert. The place was packed. Lots of people sitting in the grass, lawn chairs and blankets. We found a nice spot to stand or sit. There are adult beverages to be purchased and not only the regular bathroom but they brought in a number of portable bathrooms to match the sold out show. It was a perfect night on the river to enjoy the music and dance a little. The breeze off the river helps keep things cool. We had a good time. Things seem organized and well timed. I hope to attend another soon.

fire place joe and cheri are very nice and there's a lot of good people there fireeeeeeeeeeeeread more

My favorite place! Everyone is welcome, I've seen so many…read moreage demographics and everyone is very respectful! Kids will be kids and get a bit reckless sometimes, but who can't have fun roller skating! Joe, the owner, is the nicest man and so thoughtful when it comes to the safety and fun of everyone who's skating, like if someone falls Joe will make a barricade with his body so no one else gets hurt. He also hosts the Ames roller derby team on Wednesdays at this rink! Ita very cheap to get in and very cheap to rent skates! They do games throughout the night such as dodgeball, the dice game, tag, and limbo! (which is my personal favorite). My favorite place to come during the weekends, and I always bring friends along with me and they have a blast as well.

Great place to go. I come here for hockey a lot and sometimes for stating. Its a great place to…read morelearn and practice

This is a relatively small ice arena with one sheet of ice. The rink is managed by the university,…read moreand is in really nice condition. They have plenty of locker rooms and the ice is beautiful to skate on. If you are here to watch a hockey game, there is plenty of seating and it is basically all bleachers. They have a small snack bar and clean restrooms. If you are here for skating, they have skate rental, learn to skate programs, open skate, drop-in hockey, youth hockey and of course the ISU club team. Parking can get crowded, and it can be chilly inside, so plan accordingly. They do take credit and debit cards, and you can find their schedule here: https://www.cityofames.org/home/showdocument?id=50982

Love the Norwalk City Park. It's a great park! It's located right next to the Norwalk Library and…read morehas a cool little pond next to it. Very scenic and beautiful. I like taking my kids here because it's a very safe park. I don't have to worry about thugs or weirdos like I do at some of the south side parks. The kids love playing on the train caboose and I think that's a neat add on to an already very nice park. I let them play on the equipment a bit and then we will usually shoot some baskets as well. When we are done playing we will walk up to the library located on the same grounds and hang out there for a while! So convenient. In the winter time they convert the basketball court into an ice skating rink! So freaking cool! Toward the back of the park they also have a dog park for the furry friends. Something for everyone here :) This park has everything you need: Picnic Tables Playground Swings Train Caboose Basketball Courts Ice skating Dog park Library Pond

It is very difficult to review this place because it has so many activities and not all of them are…read moreequal. Historically, it has been poorly managed and maintained, but recently things are getting better. If you are coming here from out of town or as a spectator for a hockey tournament, be warned. It is absolutely freezing inside, and there is very limites amenities in the locker rooms. There is no on site skate sharpening, nor is there a proshop. The rink does have a snack bar that serves beer and wine. If you get too cold, there is a viewing area upstairs, though seating area is limited and you can only see one of the rinks. If you are local and want to rent the ice, go to open skate or some other activity, be sure to check their webaite the day of your event. Their schedule is inconsistent, but the new management is trying to at least update the website often. Did I mention it was cold in the rink? Yeah, the locker rooms arent heated either. As a player or skater prepare to freeze yohr butt off. Long pants, gloves and a hat are must or your ears and fingers will be icicles. TL, DR - So there's plenty of parking, its actually ADA accessible, the new owners are nice but the place is not as nice as most ice arenas built after 1940. Come prepared to freeze your buns off, and don't expect a proshop or akate sharpener. It's still nicer than Buc's Arena - though not as nice as many back yard rinks.

This place is a dump. It's dirty, unkept, and dilapidated. I don't know the last time the windows…read moreand bathrooms were cleaned or the carpet vacuumed, but I do know the last time I heard the manager yell and complain at the maintenance crew about how the youth sports coaches and director and their inability to pick up and clean. Which the maintenance man pointed out was inaccurate but she didn't seem to care. Today it snowed and the parking lot has yet to be cleaned on a presumed big day at the rink. There's a lot more issues with this place but I don't care to waste an hour of my time with this review. Can't wait for the new arena to open!!!