Many a resident fondly recalls first lacing up their skates on the ice of the Meadows.

Wet lowlands much of the year, the area off Hobart Street spent many a winter frozen over into a popular ice skating spot. But for the past few years, local skaters have had to look elsewhere for ice, as the town didn't flood the area for skating due to an ongoing budget crunch and unseasonable weather patterns.

The situation also indefinitely postponed the annual Winter Carnival traditionally held at the Meadows. Use of the site meanwhile was discouraged as unsafe in the winter.

But this year is a different story.

The Department of Public Works has been keeping the grass neat and trimmed since Thanksgiving and pulled out the boards holding back water to allow the area to flood earlier this month. With the recent frigid temperatures, town officials say the ice thickness is now five inches – safe enough to skate on.

And this Sunday, the Recreation Department is kicking off the skating season at the Meadows by resuming the Winter Carnival with the help of numerous volunteers.

Neighbors, community and parent organizations and other individuals in town rallied to reopen the Meadows and volunteer to run the wintry fun-filled afternoon.

From noon - 3 p.m., carnival-goers can skate for fun, play pickup games of ice hockey or test their skills in an icy obstacle course.

And the carnival conveniently comes right in the midst of students' Christmas break.

"Give the TV a rest and the parents a rest and come down to the Meadows," said Selectman Gardner Trask.

For more information on the carnival contact Cheryl Marshall in the Recreation Department at cmarshall@mail.danvers-ma.org.