So what does Project O.D.R. stand for?

It stands for Outdoor Rinks, yes — but also for community, creativity, and outdoor fun. It stands for family memories that last long after winter ends. It stands for passion, progress, and the belief that every rink has the potential to become something magical.

Thank you for being part of this growing community.
We can’t wait to see the rink you build!

Step-by-step instructions, tips, and everything you need for your best winter yet.

Building an outdoor rink is one of the most rewarding DIY projects you can tackle in the winter. Whether you’re setting up a rink for hockey, family skating, or making memories in the backyard, the process is completely doable with the right plan, tools, and timing. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how I build my O.D.R. each year—from finding the right location to flooding, maintaining ice, and everything in between.

If you’re building a backyard hockey rink, adding netting is one of the best upgrades you can make. Not only does it keep pucks inside the rink (and away from windows, neighbors, and vehicles), but it also creates a safer environment for players of all ages. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the simple, cost-effective method we use each winter to install durable backstop netting around our outdoor rink. with an idea.

There’s nothing quite like skating on a backyard rink lit from below. Under-ice LED lighting adds a magical glow, boosts visibility, and brings a professional-level look right to your own backyard. In this guide, we’ll walk through the process we use each year to install under-ice rope lighting for our outdoor hockey rink—complete with center ice circles, blue lines, red lines, and even our pickleball court layout.