Long Island Sports

Ice skating rinks on Long Island

It's time for rinks to power up the Zamboni and sharpen the blades on the rental skates. The winter ice skating season gets under way at some new - and classic - indoor and outdoor rinks around Long Island.

If you're up for a wintertime activity that's slippery and fun, check out some of the recent arrivals and all the rest.

(P.S. Schedule changes do occur, so call the rink or check its Web site before you go.)

NASSAU COUNTY

Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center (New for 2008-09)
Stewart and Cherry avenues, Bethpage (Bethpage Community Park), 516-433-RINK
Admission: $5-$8 adults, $4-$5 ages 5-17; $3 skate rental. Open to residents and nonresidents.
Grand opening, doors open at 10 a.m. Dec. 13, with free skating until 8 p.m. Regular public skate sessions run Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1-3 p.m. and 3:30-5:30 p.m.; Sundays, 1-3 p.m. and 3:30-5:30 p.m.; weekdays, 4-6 p.m. plus, on Fridays, 8-10 p.m. Schedule subject to change; call to confirm.

The 24,000-square-foot Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center is the Island's newest indoor rink. A celebration to mark its opening begins at 10 a.m. tomorrow with an on-ice ceremony at 11, followed by free public skating until 8 p.m. Members of the Islanders' ICE Tour will bring inflatables and interactive games to the center's outdoor courtyard and the team's mascot, Sparky, will hit the ice in the 85-by-200-foot, NHL-size rink and skate with the kids. Everyone will be treated to free refreshments, giveaways and entertainment.

The facility will be open year-round. It has men's and women's locker rooms with showers, a pro shop, a full-service cafe, a Wi-Fi-equipped viewing area and a seating area warmed by a wood-fueled brick fireplace. Elevated bleachers give observers a great vantage point. "This facility is for children of all ages," says Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto. "It brings the community together, whether it's in the form of organized sports or just on an open-skating night. It's just going to be a real happening place."

Cantiague Park
West John Street, Hicksville, 516-571-7056
Admission: $7 adults, $4 kids with Leisure Pass ($14, $10 without)
Skate rental: $5
One of Long Island's busiest indoor ice skating rinks and the former practice center for the New York Islanders, Nassau County's Cantiague Park offers Friday "theme nights" from 9-11 p.m. through March. Teen skaters are invited to dress in a costume appropriate to the theme and music. Friday, Dec. 12 's theme is "Toys for Tots"; Dec. 19 is Billy Joel and Dec. 26 is holiday music. Two-hour public sessions in December are held Friday at 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.; Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Open 1 p.m.-3 p.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The park also offers speedskating sessions and hosts league hockey games.

Christopher Morley Park
Searingtown Road, off Exit 36N of the Long Island Expressway in Roslyn-North Hills, 516-571-8123 or nassaucountyny.gov/parks.
Admission: $4 to $14, depending on age, residency and Leisure Passport
Skate rental: $5
This outdoor ice-skating rink is framed by trees, landscaped hills and a small boat basin. It's open seven days a week with two-hour sessions starting at 10:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 4 p.m. Evening sessions Thursday at 6:45 p.m.; Friday and Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Patrons can "Skate with Santa" Saturday, Dec. 13 from 1:15 p.m.-3:15 p.m.

Doors open 15 minutes before each session. Concessions are available on Friday evenings and weekends. Morley's rink is popular with a group of seniors who call themselves the "Frisky Prunes" and hit the ice on weekday mornings, older teens who prefer the evening sessions, and families who like to go there on weekends. The rink is used for hockey games Monday and Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings, and also can be rented for parties. The "hearth room" skate building is a popular hangout on cold days, where skaters can warm themselves in front of a toasty fire.

Grant Park
Near Broadway and Sheridan avenues, Hewlett, 516-571-7821 or nassaucountyny.gov/parks
Admission: $4 to $14, depending on age, residency and Leisure Passport
Skate rental: $5
This outdoor skating rink in a 35-acre park offers two-hour day sessions seven days a week, starting at 10 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with one-hour sessions on Fridays starting at 8:30 p.m. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Hempstead Lake State Park
Off Peninsula Boulevard, West Hempstead, 516-766-1029.
Admission: No fee
Skate rental: Not available
Skating outdoors on McDonald Pond is allowed based on safety conditions and the park manager's discretion. Call ahead for latest information.

Iceland Skating Rink
3345 Hillside Avenue, New Hyde Park, 516-746-1100.
Admission: $7 for adults, $6 ages 10 and under.
Skate rental: $4
Public skating sessions are held every Monday and Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Friday teen night from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. with a DJ.
On weekends, kids ages 10 and younger can skate in kids-only sessions from noon-1:30 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday. Parents or guardians who also pay the admission fee can skate along with them. All ages skates Saturday from 1:45-4:15 p.m. and 8:30-10:30 p.m.; Sundays from 1:15-3:45 p.m.

Marjorie R. Post Community Park
Unqua and Merrick roads, Massapequa, 516-797-7990.
Admission: Town of Oyster Bay residents only (proof required); $4 adults, $3 ages 5 to 17.
Skate rental: $3
This outdoor rink hosts two-hour public skating sessions are held on Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Friday, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Concessions are available.
There will be additional holiday hours Dec. 24 through Dec. 31, including two sessions on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The rink will closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Newbridge Arena
2600 Newbridge Road, Bellmore, 516-783-6181 or newbridgearena.com.
Admission: $7; $6 for Town of Hempstead residents
Skate rental: $3.50
Indoor facility offers two hour public skating sessions Monday at 4 p.m., Thursday at 8 a.m.; Friday at 9:45 a.m., 1:45 p.m., 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon, 2:30 p.m.
Doors open 30 minutes before start times.

Port Washington Family Skating Center
70 Seaview Boulevard, Port Washington, 516-484-6800.
Admission: $7
Skate rental: $4
Public skating sessions are held Monday-Friday noon-2:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 2:15 p.m.-3:45 p.m. Additional sessions will be offered daily from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 25-Jan. 4, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Syosset-Woodbury Community Park
7800 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury, 516-677-5990.
Admission: Town of Oyster Bay residents only (proof required); $4 adults, $3 ages 5 to 17.
Skate rental: $3
This outdoor rink hosts two-hour public skating sessions Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., Friday at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Saturday at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Concessions are available. Additional holiday hours Dec. 20-Jan. 2, including two sessions on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

The Arena of Long Beach
150 West Bay Drive, Long Beach, 516-431-6500, thearenaoflongbeachny.com
Admission: $8 for adults, $6 for kids 12 and under.
Skate rental: $4
This large indoor rink hosts one-and-a-half hour skating sessions Monday through Friday at 9 a.m. Additional sessions Monday and Friday at 4 p.m.; Friday at 1:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 1:15 and 7:45 p.m. and Sundays at 2:15 p.m.

The Rink at Reckson Plaza
164 EAB Plaza, Uniondale, 516-683-0303.
Admission: $8 adults, $5 kids
Skate rental: $4
Public skating from 6-10 p.m. on weeknights, weather permitting. On weekends, sessions start every two hours between noon and 10 p.m. Concessions are available.

SUFFOLK COUNTY
The Arches at Tanger Outlet (New for 2008-09)
455 Commack Rd., Deer Park, 631-940-8167, tangeroutlet.com
Admission: $10, free under age 5; $4 skate rental
Hours: 2-9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday; 2-7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday

Not only does the new retail outlet in Deer Park have great shopping, but it also offers such amenities as an outdoor oval skating rink that encircles a 50-foot Christmas tree in the complex's center court. "You're not going to find one like this at all," says general manager Robert Thornton. About 160 people took to the ice when the rink first opened after Thanksgiving, he says. "It was all people who didn't come down planning to skate. They saw it, and they wanted to just try it."

The Rinx at Harborfront Park
101A E. Broadway (at the Port Jefferson Village Center), Port Jefferson, 631-403-4357, portjeffrink.com
Admission: $9.50-$10.50; $7-$8 ages 11 and younger; $4.50-$5.50 seniors; $11 for the 8-10 p.m. Friday session; $5 skate rental
Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday

Starting this year, The Rinx is managing this outdoor rink, which opened four years ago and is perched on the Harbor. "What's great about this place is the view. You can't beat it," says Tom Palamara, director of operations. "It's really just a great family place to come and hang out, whether you want to skate or not. You can see the Port Jeff ferry coming in and out while you're skating."

Dix Hills Ice Skating Arena
575 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills, 631-462-5883.
Admission: Town of Huntington residents pay $6.50 for adults and $5 for kids 13 and under; Non-residents pay $10 for adults and $8 for kids.
Skate rental: $3.50
This indoor rink offers public skating sessions on Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Special holiday sessions on Christmas Eve from 10 a.m.-noon and 12:15-2 p.m.; then two-hour sessions Dec. 26, 29-31 at 10 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. Also 8:15 p.m. Friday only.

Superior Ice Rink
270 Indian Head Road, Kings Park, 631-269-3900, superioricerink.com.
Admission: $9 for adults ($10 on Fridays); $7 for children 11 and younger.
Skate rental: $4
This indoor rink offers two-hour public skating sessions Tuesday at 10 a.m., Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.; and skating with a DJ Friday at 8:30 p.m. Weekend skates at 1 p.m. Call for special holiday hours.

The Rinx
660 Terry Road, Hauppauge, 631-232-3222, therinx.com
Skate rental: $5
Admission: $9.50-$11 for adults, $7-$8 for kids 11 and under. Islip residents receive $1 off adult admission with a valid recreation card.
Two indoor skating rinks offer public sessions weekdays, from 12:30-2:30 p.m. and 4-5:45 p.m. Weekend super sessions are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday teen night skating from 8:15 p.m.-10:15 p.m. Special holiday super sessions from noon to 5:45 p.m. Dec. 26, 29-Jan. 2, noon until 5:45 p.m.