A little bit of the North and South Poles have come to Kansas. Well, sort of.

Brendan Wiley, director of the Topeka Zoo, announced Friday the Topeka Active 20-30 Club has provided the funding for a synthetic ice rink to serve as an additional opportunity for entertainment and education about cold weather animals, the polar ice caps, the effects of global warming and conservation.

"It's an amazing feeling to be ice skating," Wiley said, "knowing there's a bigger message about the environment."

Data shows, Wiley said, that children begin to lose interest in going to the zoo around the age of 9. He said the rink will give families another reason to enjoy their visits to see the animals.

"This is an opportunity to reach a slightly older child, to make the part of their lives at the zoo longer," he said. "It has the potential to really grow in use as the seasons change and families can continue to be part of the Topeka Zoo."

The 2,600-square-foot Polar Ice Cap, which is nontoxic and recyclable, is located under the Security Benefit Pavilion. The surface, which doesn't require chilling and is more durable than ice, mimics the feel of ice in that traditional ice skates can be used on it.

The rink will be open Saturday and will continue to be open during normal zoo hours. Beginning Thursday, the Polar Ice Cap will be open on Thursday and Saturday evenings from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and will run until March 31. Skates can be rented for $2.50. Normal zoo admission prices apply.

"It gives the community a chance to use the zoo in the evenings, on a regular basis," Wiley said.

Just outside of the Polar Ice Cap rink there will be educational displays that talk about how global warming affects the environment and how people can be more environmentally aware.

"You can take better care of the our world by understanding how our behavior interacts with the environment," Wiley said.

Wiley said about a handful of other zoos across the U.S. have similar polymer-based rinks that add another activity to the zoo experience. He said the Los Angeles Zoo has a similar rink, and the same surface is used by some National Hockey League teams, as well as Disney on Ice.

Topeka city manager Norton Bonaparte said the Polar Ice Cap is an example of efforts that are being made to add to the quality of life in the capital city.

"It's great. It's innovative," he said. "It's another amenity that ties directly into having another activity to enjoy at the zoo in Topeka."