LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Clinton County Community Foundation Board President Allan Lugg, Jr. presents Downtown Lock Haven, Inc. Manager Kira Rosamilia with a check for $12,800, which will be used to purchase a synthetic skating rink for downtown, and to develop artwork for the large, black boxes controlling the traffic lights.

LOCK HAVEN — Does anyone want to go skating?

Not skating on real ice.

Not roller skating.

How about skating on a synthetic surface, even in warm weather?

That’s just the kind of fun that Downtown Lock Haven Inc. wants to bring to the community.

Thanks to a $12,800 grant from the Clinton County Community Foundation Inc., Downtown Lock Haven, Inc. plans to bring this unique skating rink to downtown.

The rink is designed to be used year-round, no matter the weather.

Downtown Manager Kira Rosamilia said, with unpredictable weather, buying a rink and liner for a typical ice skating rink proved to be a challenge.

“But this can be used anytime of the year,” she said. “Throughout the country people have been switching to synthetic ice rinks. The upkeep is easier, there’s not a risk of melting, falling on the material is safer and it will last for years as long as it’s cared for properly.”

Rosamilia said she and DLH’s board members are thankful for the Community Foundation’s generosity.

“We are super thankful for the Foundation,” she said. “Without their kindness in awarding this grant, this rink wouldn’t be possible.”

Rosamilia said DLH plans to order the rink from Polyglide Ice and it should ship to Lock Haven within 10 days or so.

The rink will be 34-feet-by-58-feet total.

The nonprofit merchants group is still solidifying when the rink will debut — although Rosamilia hopes to have it up and running by July.

She’s also zeroing in on a location that will be announced at a later date.

According to Rosamilia, the rink will be easy to install, operating similar to a floating laminate floor.

Once installed, the rink will be fenced in and monitored.

“Nothing is going to be exactly like ice, but this is the closest you can get without relying on the weather,” she said.

When the rink opens, Rosamilia said visitors can bring their own skates or potentially borrow a pair.

“Our amazing board president (Angela Harding) contacted Wayne Township to see if we would be allowed to utilize their skates,” Rosamilia said.

The Wayne Township Recreation Committee each year, weather permitting, will install its own ice rink.

Foundation Board President Allan Lugg, Jr. congratulated Rosamilia and Downtown Lock Haven for the hard work and creative ideas put into promoting the communittty.

“I commend Kira’s dedication toward making downtown a hub of events and activities for our community and the businesses. The foundation is proud to support her efforts and looks forward to the latest endeavors,” he said.

Harding thanked the Foundation for its generosity, the downtown board for volunteering time to make the organization impactful, and lauded Rosamilia for her energy and positive approach to community.

Details about skate rental will be available closer to the rink’s installation.

Rosamilia and members of DLH expressed great excitement to be able to bring something unique to the area — a hobby that was extremely common in Lock Haven in years gone by. A similar idea was floating for Triangle Park a fews year back but died for lack of funding.

“I love that we’re bringing something back that was a winter staple here,” Rosamilia said. “I’ve seen pictures of people back in the day skating on the Susquehanna River in the winter.”

Now, without weather constraints, residents this summer should be able to enjoy skating anytime of year.

When the rink arrives, Rosamilia said, the nonprofit will need volunteers and tools to set up the rink and monitor it.

Anyone who may be interested in helping may send an email to events@lockhaven.org for more details.

Meanwhile, part of the grant funds also will pay for artwork to be wrapped around the large, black traffic light controller boxes at various intersections in Lock Haven. The boxes are integral to the updating of the traffic lights, per PennDOT.

Many businesses feel they are unsightly so Rosamiliar and DLH’s Design Committee came up with the idea for artwork wraps.

“We formed a design committee to accept proposals for art and they will select three that will be converted into wraps, making the large, black, electrical boxes more as aesthetically pleasing and bring more art to our business district,” said Rosamilia.

For more information on how to contribute to the Foundation, visit www.clintoncountyfoundation.org.