(The original story has been edited as city staff corrected some of the information initially shared by mayor Cason)

The Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a mild winter with above average temperatures for most of the southeast United States this winter. However, the city of Carrollton is determined to go against mother nature and create a winter setting despite outside temperatures above the freezing mark by constructing a public accessible ice-skating rink.

“Santa Claus has come early to Carrollton and he’s bringing an ice-skating rink to (East Carrollton Rec Center),” Carrollton Mayor Betty Cason told WLBB Radio. “It will be open (to the public for individual skating…) for businesses, companies… any kind of private party that you’ll have. And we are just very excited.”

Cason says the city hopes to create the coldest spot in town; and, have the rink ready for the months of December and January.

City staff says the rink will be “under an an open-air pavilion.”

To keep the ice cold enough for skaters, the rink uses a machine that freezes the water and keeps actual ice frozen.

“Oh yes it’s going to be real ice,” Cason said. “It’s not going to be like some of the places you go where they have some kind of plastic stuff that you skate on. It’s going to be real ice.”

Carrollton called on Carroll EMC to accommodate the site with electricity needed to function the freezer.

“… and we appreciate very much Carroll EMC’s efforts to get the power out there that we needed,” Cason said. “We have the power out there now so we are ready to go.”

Cason says ice skates will be available to rent for those who do not own a pair or have access to their own.

(The original story has been edited as city staff corrected some of the information initially shared by mayor Cason)