T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM

Parks and Rec Director Geoff Hubbard prepares the downtown Iowa Wild ice rink on Wednesday afternoon. The preparation included filling the rink with water with the help of Marshalltown Fire Department Chief David Rierson and Deputy Chief Christopher Cross. Pool noodles were placed on the sides to provide some protection, and excess plastic on the exterior was cut away. Hubbard said it should take roughly five days for the water to freeze enough for skating. City officials will check on Monday if the rink is ready to go. Red flags are on the sides of the rink to indicate the ice is not ready. Hubbard said residents can enjoy the ice when green flags are present. Two sets of bleachers will be outside the rink, and there will be a set of visible rules. Hubbard said some examples of the rules are no horseplay and only skates are allowed on the ice. The City of Marshalltown has 60 pairs of ice skates available for rent at a cost of $2 per day. Skating will be allowed from dawn to dusk, but Hubbard added there is potential for the hours to be extended. He said the city is working on the possibility of having string lights hung, which would extend the skating hours later in the day. However, Hubbard said he is not positive that is happening yet.