(Photo Illustration/MetroCreative)

PARKERSBURG — The city’s artificial ice rink is skating to a new location this winter.

The rink will be set up in the fourth-floor theater space at Discovery World on Market, the interactive children’s museum in downtown Parkersburg that opened earlier this year.

Discovery World Executive Director Wendy Shriver said the area will be transformed into “a winter wonderland.”

The rink will be available to museum members and guests with children during regular museum hours, starting with the opening from 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Those visiting the museum can get an additional ice-skating ticket for $7 a person, which includes skate rental.

Regular admission to the museum for those without a membership is $8 for children, $7 for adults and $6 for seniors/grandparents.

In previous years, the rink was set up at the pavilion in Parkersburg City Park and operated by the Wood County Recreation Commission. However, the commission declined to operate it this year, citing concerns over staffing, said Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce, a member of the commission.

“I think it’s a perfect fit,” Joyce said. “They’ve got the room.”

The rink was acquired by the city in 2020, primarily with contributions from the Ross Foundation, the primary force behind the development of Discovery World on Market.

Joyce described the vision and leadership by the Ross family and the Ross Foundation, Shriver and the Discovery World board and volunteers as “beyond admirable and I am grateful for their efforts.”

The rink will serve as a fundraiser for efforts to expand the museum’s offerings.

“We are nearing the completion of our fundraising campaign to renovate our beautiful theater and will be using revenue generated from the indoor ice-skating to help us with our fundraising efforts,” Shriver said.

While the museum hours will be dedicated to children skating, there will be time for adults 18 and older to use it from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Saturdays, starting Dec. 9.

Thanks to the title sponsor, West Virginia Central Federal Credit Union, the first 25 skaters during museum hours and the first 25 skaters during special evening hours every Saturday will skate for free, Shriver said.

More information is available and tickets can be purchased online at dwonmarket.org.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.