Pittsburgh To Get First Indoor Skating Rink

Pittsburgh PA

15 July, 2021

9:37 AM

Description

PITTSBURGH, PA — The city is getting its first indoor skating rink. The Penguins will construct one at the Hunt Armory on Emerson Avenue in Shadyside that should debut by Thanksgiving. The Penguins will use as the headquarters of their hockey diversity program designed to advance familiarity and skills of the sport to minority youth players in city neighborhoods. The rink also will be open for public recreational skating and will support local city hockey programs, including Central Catholic and Chatham University. The rink, which will be operational from November through March, also will be home to a middle school hockey development program to be established with the Pittsburgh Public Schools and Sacred Heart Elementary School. No city money will be used for the project, which will be paid for by a grant from the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players Association. "I want to thank the NHL and the Players Association for recognizing the ongoing work we're putting into this effort, and the City and (the Urban Development Authority) for their partnership on behalf of all city youth," Pens president and CEO David Morehouse said in a news release. Mayor Bill Peduto said that placing a rink in the 46,500 square-foot armory "will not only allow for new and cost-free athletic opportunities for city youth, but follow the wishes of Shadyside neighbors who have long called for public skating in this historic and underused building." Community meetings on the rink plans are expect to occur soon. Be the first to know what's happening in your community and region. With a free Patch subscription, you'll always be up to date on local and state news: https://patch.com/subscribe