Lovers of ice skating are getting ready to take over the outdoor rinks.

All week crews in Weston will be preparing three outdoor skating rinks, hoping to have them officially open by Friday.

Though the weather may not be ideal for spending time outdoors, it is ideal for making ice.

After clearing snow from the open rink and hockey rink at Kennedy Park, employees of the Weston Parks Dept. were ready to start the flood.

A steady stream of about 1,500 gallons of water coated the rink's floor, and everything was frozen within an hour.

"It's perfect because it freezes fast. Typically on a day like today we can get two layers down instead of one because it freezes so quickly," said Shawn Osterbrink, the parks superintendent.

It will take several layers of ice to get the three to four inch base that's needed.

Workers will continue the flooding process once or twice a day throughout the season, as needed.

The department even has a surfacer, which will keep the rinks silky smooth.

And if it gets too bitterly cold, skaters and spectators can warm up in the Kennedy Park warming house.

On average, about 3,000 residents use the outdoor rinks each year. There's another rink located at Weston Elementary.