There have been a couple of cold days recently and residents have noticed ice start to form on Mill Pond. However, while ice may be forming, residents are warned to stay off the pond until Guilford officials determine it is safe for skating.

Parks & Recreation Director Rick Maynard said folks have been calling in asking about skating on the pond. He said the ice is not thick enough for skating yet.

“Weather plays a major part here,” he said. “We start getting calls after about two or three days of cold weather asking why Mill Pond isn’t open.”

Maynard said the department generally doesn’t open the pond until there is about five inches of block ice—ice that is formed by pure frozen water, not snow that has thawed out and refrozen. To get that much ice, the temperature needs to stay below freezing for about 8 to 10 days. Maynard said that under those conditions, about half an inch of ice can form a day.

“The other thing that makes it complicated for us is if there are four inches of ice, maybe someone could go out and skate on it but we can’t get out equipment out there to blow off the snow,” he said. “I’m not sending my guys out on that ice with heavy equipment when it’s only at four inches.”

Maynard said he is always conservative when it comes to opening the pond because he wants to be sure everyone is safe—a precaution he encourages residents to take if they have a pond on their own property before they try to skate on it. He also said people need to respect signage indicating if Mill Pond is open or not.

“People should not be going on Mill Pond when we have the ‘No Skating’ sign on it,” he said. “There could be many reasons for that and it could be that the ice isn’t safe enough, it may have cracks in it, it may be rough or bumpy and could cause people to fall.

“I am very cautious and conservative on when we open based on the proper ice thickness, but having said that, I am a huge proponent of getting people outside in the winter,” he said. “We want people to have the opportunity to get outside, so the minute we can say it’s safe, we post that so people know they can come and skate. We do everything we can to encourage people to get out there and get some fresh air.”

When and if the pond does open, supervisors will be out tending to the bonfire, making sure everyone is safe, and ensuring hockey players and recreational skaters share the ice. The ice is also not open if there are no supervisors present, the same way the department won’t open a beach for swimming if there is no lifeguard.

Signs will be posted to indicate if the ice is open. Residents can also contact the Parks & Recreation Department at 203-453-8068 for updates.