Fort Wayne bans skaters from ponds over safety concerns

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - Fort Wayne skaters who want to test their skills on ponds at the city's parks are out of luck this winter.

Director Al Moll of the Parks and Recreation Department says the city will no longer open the four ponds for skating during the winter months because officials can't monitor the sites to ensure the ice is thick enough to be safe.

Moll tells The Journal Gazette (http://bit.ly/1BdQ8Ga ) that city ponds haven't frozen to a thickness safe for skating during the past several winters despite some extremely cold temperatures. He says ponds can appear frozen, but the strength of the ice can be compromised by a snow cover.

Skaters are urged to use the skating rink available at Headwaters Park.

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Information from: The Journal Gazette, http://www.journalgazette.net