MILWAUKEE — Finishing touches to the 'Slice of Ice' ice rink at Red Arrow Park in Milwaukee were made Thursday afternoon, as Milwaukee County gets ready for the winter season to begin. 

“All season long we’ve been trying to think of creative ways to get people out and engaged in their parks in a safe manner," said Joe Mrozinski, Assistant Director of Business Services with Milwaukee County Parks. 

Because of a warm day last week, crews weren't able to make the ice, so the rink, which opened Friday, opened a little later than normal. 

That's okay for Mrozinski and Milwaukee County Parks, which put in a lot of work to make sure those who want to ice skate this year can do so, safely.

The biggest change this year is how many people are allowed to be on the ice at one time. 

“We’re limited to 25 people per hour," Mrozinski said. 

That means if you want to skate, you have to go online and reserve your spot ahead of time, one hour at a time. 

You're allowed to register up to eight people per group, every hour. 

Online reservations and limits on how many people are allowed on the ice each hour aren't the only changes at Slice of Ice this year. 

There is an outdoor tent where skaters will wait in line, separated by eight feet, until they're allowed in the building to rent their skates. Only six people are allowed in the building to check in.

“You’ll check in at the counter here, get your ice skates, and you can exit back out into the tent," Mrozinski said. 

Then, skaters will head back to the outdoor tent to change into their skates. 

Seating in the tent is limited to the 25 people skating that hour, and benches are only for families and groups who arrive together. 

Masks are required while in the tent and on the ice. 

Despite the pandemic, Mrozinski hopes this year will bring more people out to the rink. 

“It’s a great opportunity if you’re new to ice skating to try it out this year because you have the rink almost to yourself, you and 24 friends," Mrozinski said. 

If you have your own skates, it's free to make a reservation at the Slice of Ice rink. 

If you need to rent skates, it's $7 for children 17 and younger, and $9 for adults per hour. 

Skating reservations can be made at SliceOfIce.com. Reservations are available from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. 

Opening weekend is sold out.