1. Last year the rink was 32x74. As you can see from the picture my yard wasn't level, I had ice as thick as 18" and as thin as 5". The planning of 
this rink started in March. I wanted bigger and better. I was tired of chasing the puck in the yard from my son, he's a Squirt so he has a pretty good shot so I wanted to build boards. This year the rink is 38x86 with full 4 foot boards all the way around. 

2. Step 1 was to have 120 yards of fill delivered and laser leveled to within a 1/2". I got really lucky on this, a local contractor needed to get rid of the dirt and offered to deliver it AND level it for free! That was a huge savings. 

3. I wanted to make the rink permanent, I was tired of building it every fall. I started by installing cement blocks every 8 feet in the ground. I then hammered rebar down through the holes in the blocks, then filled the 
blocks with cement. While the cement was still wet, I put a galvanized 
carriage bolt in the blocks, sticking up so I could bolt down my "plate" 
(2x8x16). I bolted the 2x8's down to the blocks (similar in the way a 
contractor mounts your house to the foundation).

4. I then built walls with 2x4's, 24" on center with a 2x6x16 top rail. I used 1/2" CDX plywood for the walls.

5. I usually just buy a 1 piece clear liner/poly plastic 40x100 from the local Sanford and Hawley, but a guy I know turned me onto Screen House film. 
This is the plastic they use to cover screen houses. It's great, it's 6 mil 
and for some reason it seems "stretchier" than the normal clear. Also, you can get it in any color, so I ordered it in white. I'm told it makes a huge difference having white, so we will see. 

6. I installed the liner 6" up the boards on the inside and stapled it all the way around, I then screwed furring strips (1x3x8) over the plastic to "sandwich" the liner between the walls and the strips. Then started filling 
it. I calculated it took 16 thousand gallons to fill it. I usually fill it with my hose, but I'm starting to get really worried about my well and my well pump. So I filled some of it with the hose and then called the local Fire Dept. for a small donation, they came and finished filling it for me, it was great! I will definitely call them back for next year. 

7. I built a huge fire pit on the other side of the rink so we can stay warm. There's a bench on the other side for the skaters to get their skates and gear on. I have a Bruins Flag that I put up on the tree over the bench for the Fleet Center feel;).

8. The last thing I have to do is build the lights. I stole Todd's idea. I 
bought 4 lights, 500 watts each, and mounted them to ridged conduit. They are all built, I just need to put them up and wire them back to the house. 

9. Next year I plan to paint it white (to help preserve it and give it the rink look) and round the corners. I would have done it this year but I ran out of time.

Thanks for sending in your pic and all the info Ron.