This is such a fantastic upgrade on the old Robert Crown that I don't even know where to begin. The old one was a grim brick structure without any windows; this one is a clean, modern one with so much natural light that they could almost get away with leaving the lights off. There's a beautiful ice rink (and figure skates to rent) surrounded by a running track, two basketball courts, a cozy library, four (I think) outdoor soccer fields as well as a baseball diamond. It's turned what used to be a very tired but valuable community hub in to a very vibrant, even more useful one. You could probably spend most of the day here if you were so inclined. read more

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I've wanted to check this ice rink out for a long time so I decided to check out public skate. It's a beautiful venue, very modern and I love how the seating is above the rink. The lady at the front counter was also super friendly. I thought it was awesome that half way through the skating switched directions and that the guards had a microphone. Only thing I'd change was that a lot people seemed to be crowding in the middle (I.e. not practicing or taking lessons) which made it a little hard to practice. Public skate cost $9 for an adult. read more

Robert Crown has a studio and full size rink. I've never skated on the studio rink. It generally seems to have hockey and learn-to-skate classes on it. The good: Two evening freestyles. The only ones in a 50 mile radius of downtown Chicago. The rink is bright and the ice is fairly level - there are some dips but they aren't as bad as McFetridge was prior to the redo. The staff all seem nice and there are some top notch pros teaching there. I found both my coaches there. The bad: The main rink is not always cleared prior to freestyles and often the ice is pretty torn up. Way too many learn-to-skate beginners on the evening freestyles. The rink facility is pretty dirty and the bathrooms are to be avoided. The rink director thinks that if you are an adult that you should be in the adult freestyle classes even though none of the classes are working on axels or double jumps. So, you have to insist on being put in the right class. It is weird to be in a class with a bunch of 12 year olds but it's weirder to be landing all your single jumps and to be put in with a bunch of adults that are learning waltz jumps. The office and snack bar are always closed during the evening freestyles. read more

Robert Crown is a great place, and I was fortunate to have spent so much time there as a kid. If you or your child is an ice skater, Robert Crown is an excellent training facility, offering group and private lessons as well as public ice time. They put on two shows a year - the Nutcracker on Ice in December and the Spring Show, for which the theme changes yearly. ALL students currently registered in a class are invited to perform. RC turned out some beautiful skaters, including World Championship bronze medalist Nicole Bobek. RC also has a great summer day camp for kids, and used to offer a phenomenal day camp for skaters (not sure if it is still offered). There is a lot to do there, with 2 rinks, a gymnasium, huge field, a playground next door, and several arts & crafts/special interest rooms in the building. If I could be a kid again, I'd head straight for Robert Crown. read more

We've been here a handful of times for ice skating and enjoyed each time. We're also here because the AYSO U5 and U6 typically play in their fields. However, this review is mostly on Robert Crown's amazing spring break camp. Both of my kids (7 and 4.5 years old) went to spring break camp here since we couldn't afford to get away. For all five days (Monday to Friday), the Evanston resident rate was $163.60 from 9am - 4pm. The kids loved it. They got to have ice skating class three days during the week and went on field trips every day. The younger one had more local field trips like the library, Trader Joe's, Martial Arts Studio, and Petsmart. The older one got to even go to the Field Museum. The last day, their Field Trip was to have lunch at a local Evanston restaurant which my kids also loved. Overall, the Spring Break camp is something that both my kids loved so much and they said that it was better than any spring break vacation that I could have planned. Between their art projects, games, included skating lessons and field trips to local businesses, it was money well spent on a quality and fun experience! read more

I am delighted to have the walking track above the ice rink. Fun to watch the skaters. It is a welcome service for people unable to walk outside in the winter. The walking track is open and covid safe, taking hourly reservations. The whole project was worth it to have a place for us to walk year round. Thanks. read more

To people unfamiliar with ice arenas, most have the charm of a meat locker, with ugly walls and corridors leading to a frigid ice rink. Well, this one is definitely a frigid one inside, but the corridors leading to it are quite attractive and warm. This is a beautiful ice arena where Evanston hosts their annual speedskating competition. We came here for a race and the venue did not disappoint. It is actually two separate rinks. While the races were on, there was hockey in the ice rink next to the main arena. Where some ice rinks have to choose either/or, you can have both at Evanston. The hallways have padded, carpeted areas that are convenient for putting on skating gear, with skylights overhead and hanging spider plants suspended from the ceiling, giving the place a greenhouse-like charm as you're out in the lobby. There's a row of vending machines and a series of corridors that the skaters used to do a warmup run before the opening races. Outside, the place has an odd-looking entrance that looks almost like you're at a train terminal or something, but once inside, you feel comfortable. As for watching the races, higher up in the stands is much warmer than being in the front row, freezing. It is a cold arena but a great place for racing. read more

In 2015 I wrote a 2-star review of Robert Crown. Three years have passed, and I feel it's only fair to update that review, and I'm going with 4-stars. No, the locker rooms are still smelly, and I wouldn't recommend taking a shower there. But the place has so many great community activities going on that it would be a shame to leave that 2-star impression stand. The hockey program which once seemed to be in disarray, now approaches being exemplary, or at least as exemplary as one big sheet and one small sheet (of ice) can be. RCC is really the vital center of Evanston community life. Kudos to all the hard-working coaches and everyone else who plays a part. read more

My daughter is a rink rat there and loves it. We know and have become friends with several families as a result. The skating coaching staff is top-notch! read more

I never knew how lucky I was to live near this as a kid. Skating, karate, basketball, and yes even dodge ball... an energetic little boy's wet dream. Multiple skating rinks, basketball courts and plenty of other facilities. Plus they have a concession stand, so I could pick up some popcorn and a box of Jujyfruits after having someone jump on my stomach in karate class. read more

The place hasn't changed in 30 years. It still has the same red box benches. It's very affordable and has lots of great kids programs. They even put on a nutcracker on ice and have been doing it for as long as I can remember. The show features the kids attending the classes. It's very sweet. read more

I signed my daughter up for several camps this summer and paid with a check. I had to change her camps around to fit my schedule and ended up over paying. I have been waiting for a refund for My daughter's camps for over 2 months. I wrote a check and still haven't received my refund check back. I then enrolled my daughter in free skate camp over the phone and the registrar didn't tell me it was for higher level skaters. On the first day of ice skating camp I received a call from the ice skating instructor Vicky and was told my daughter wasn't at the level and people don't read that this camp is for higher level skaters. Of course I didn't read anything if I registered over the phone. Inconveniently I had to leave work to pick my daughter up. Now I have another refund that I will NEVER get. I asked Jill Silverman the office coordinator for help on getting my refund and she said there was nothing she could do to help me. I told her I am a single mom with 3 kids and she still didn't try to help me. All this money I have spent on these Robert Crown camps have gone down the drain. They are soo quick to take your money and they won't make it a priority to return it. All I am asking for is for someone to help me track my refund but there is no one to call for help. What a Horrible experience. read more

I like that place because of several reasons: - Location. It's pretty close to my place. - Price. It's one of the cheapest rinks in Chicago area. - Hours. You can easily have a date here since the rink is open late (most of the other rinks in that area are open in afternoon or morning) - Usually it's not crowded - It's a perfect place for those who are just learning how to skating and children. You should definitely stop by that place. You will enjoy it. read more

Great!!! I work here as a volunteer. I encourage everyone to come here to skate and have fun!!!

I play hockey here and besides the fact that the locker rooms are pretty bad it's an overall great place to play sports and skate. Great place and community. read more

R.C. has two rinks, so there are lots of public skating opportunities. Both my kids have taken classes here. The best kept non-secret seems to be that the classes in the summer are sparsely attended so if you enroll your children, they get tons of individual attention. Plus it's a great place to come and cool off in the summer. There's a cafe and they have begun offering real food, like paninis and wraps, including vegetarian options, that are really quite good and very reasonably priced. read more

the building is a dump. it is likely on a condemned list. there is an ice rink that has great ice( 2 stars because ice is truly great- ice is worth 4 stars), decent boards, locker rooms and showers are disgusting. staff has little clue of what is happening within building. the parking lot and building entry are not very secure so lock your doors and hold that wallet. read more