Here’s where you can – and can’t – go ice skating this winter

If you’re wondering if the downtown ice rink will return now that Fulton Street is complete, you’re bound to be disappointed.

The Downtown Fresno Partnership operated the fun winter activity for a few years at the Mariposa Mall, but quit after 2014. Power costs were too high to run the rink, and local businesses weren’t benefiting from it.

Many people expressed the hope it would return this year since the Fulton Street project is complete, but the Downtown Fresno Partnership confirmed the rink would not return.

Craig Scharton, the partnership’s interim CEO, took to Facebook to explain the thought process behind the decision.

“I love everyone’s enthusiasm. It’s a very refreshing change from just a few years ago,” he said. “So let’s talk about the role that events play in revitalization. They can be important and as the public, of course, you enjoy them. But from the revitalization organization’s perspective, events must be balanced with other priorities and goals. There are organizations that jump from event to event and they burn everyone out and often lose the support of their businesses. Events are also financially risky, like the ice rink was. So it’s important to design events with clear goals.”

Scharton also said that events should serve more as support, and “downtown is the star.”

But don’t fret. There’s plenty of other places to lace up some skates and whirl around the ice.

Gateway Ice Center is open year-round and has public skate sessions all week, and especially on the weekend.

If you’re visiting Yosemite National Park, an ice rink in Half Dome Village is scheduled to open Nov. 22.

Starting Dec. 2, an ice rink in downtown Visalia at the Garden Street Plaza (300 E. Main St.) will be open for about a month. For the schedule, prices and special events, visit www.iceskatevisalia.com.

You can ice skate for free at two hallmark Sanger holiday events. The first is on Nov. 29, when the city will hold its annual tree lighting ceremony. Skating will be available starting at 3 p.m. and then after the ceremony. Skating also will be available after the 70th Annual Toyland Parade on Dec. 2.

This story was originally published November 17, 2017 at 1:55 PM with the headline "Here’s where you can – and can’t – go ice skating this winter."