Bellefonte’s new ice rink will open soon. Here’s what to know and where else to skate this winter

After a joint effort from local businesses and community leaders, Bellefonte’s first ice skating rink is set to open Sunday.

The rink, located near the gazebo in Talleyrand Park, will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors are required to bring their own skates.

A ribbon-cutting is planned for Jan. 25 and a number of local businesses are sponsoring the rink, according to the website Bellefonte.com, which is among the sponsors and helped organize the effort.

Sponsors raised $12,000 in donations, as well as $3,000 in donated services, to purchase the rink, which was then donated to the borough. The borough will be responsible for the installation, maintenance and storage of the rink.

“(The rink) gives us a chance to have people utilize the park in the wintertime, to get outside, be active, explore and enjoy what we have to offer in Bellefonte,” said Mark Dello Stritto, a local business owner who organized the purchase of the rink.

Kelleher Landscape built a temporary walkway for the 40-by-80 foot temporary rink and Garman Construction added a platform for entry and exit.

Other places to skate in Centre County

Harris Township’s ice skating rink has opened at Blue Spring Park, though Centre Region Parks and Recreation tweeted Thursday that it’s temporarily closed due to warm temperatures. The rink features a hockey-only time from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Updates can be found on the Centre Region Parks and Recreation website.

Howard Borough’s skating rink has not fully frozen yet but may be ready in the next week, according to a recent Facebook post by organizer Patti Long.

For those looking to skate indoors, Pegula Ice Arena is open for public skating on Wednesdays, Fridays and the weekend. Ticket prices and times can be found on its website.

This story was originally published January 14, 2022 at 5:00 AM.