Mercer County Skating Center

Mercer County Skating Center At A Glance...

• An open-air rink under a roof, so skating goes on in any weather.
• Skating here since October 25, 1975, on a rink of about 85 by 200 feet with real hockey boards and bleachers.
• Hockey stick time gives experienced skaters open ice to practice passing, shooting and puck handling.
• A lounge with a fireplace and a snack bar are there for warming up after a skate.
• Todays Sunrise: 6:43 am,   Sunset: 4:42 pm  
• New Jersey Delaware River Region Mercer County
• Mercer County Skating Center is part of  Mercer County Park

• Amenities:

  • Restrooms/Bathrooms

  Rules/Regulations:

  • Entrance Fee Required

Contact / Location

A Brief History

The Mercer County Skating Center officially opened on October 25, 1975, on more than 5 acres of Mercer County Park. Princeton architect Richard Charlton designed it, and the Scozzari Brothers of Trenton were the general contractors. The aim was to give the public outdoor recreational skating regardless of weather, and the rink floor sits on a 5-inch floating concrete slab.

Programs / Education

Group lessons are for children and adults, usually on Saturday and Sunday mornings and Thursday evenings, in five-week sessions with rolling signup. Lessons and private lessons are registered through the Mercer Skating School.

Things to See & Do

Public skating is the main event, and rental skates mean you do not have to own a pair. Group lessons run in five-week sessions with half an hour of instruction and an hour of practice time each week, and registration goes through the Mercer Skating School. Experienced hockey players can use stick time for open ice to practice passing, shooting and puck handling.

Birthday parties and private party rentals can be booked through the county. After skating, warm up at the snack bar or by the fireplace in the lounge.

Tips and Tricks

Stick time is open ice, not a game: no games or scrimmages. It is for ages 5 and up, signup is at the front office, and everyone needs full hockey gear (helmet with a full face cage for children and teens, a helmet with a shield or cage for adults, gloves, a stick and hockey skates). Children under 12 skate with an adult in full gear. Sessions are limited in size, and the dates change, so check the county calendar.

Admission & Guidelines

Admission is charged for public skating, and rental skates and sharpening cost extra. Frequent skater passes and season passes have been offered. Prices are in the county's skating rink brochure on its website.

Hours / Season of Operation

The ice season runs from about the end of October or the start of November to about mid-March, and the rink is open to the public seven days a week while it runs. Public skating, senior and adult-only sessions, lessons and stick time are on a posted calendar that changes through the season. Check the county's website or call before you go.

Facilities

The skating center has a snack bar, a lounge with a fireplace and tables, vending machines, skate rental and sharpening, and lockers. Public restrooms are at the park's facilities.

Directions

The skating center is at 1638 Old Trenton Road in West Windsor, inside Mercer County Park.

The rink is run by the Mercer County Park Commission. Group lessons are registered through the Mercer Skating School.

The rest of Mercer County Park is around the rink, including the Mercer County Park Disc Golf Course.

Here are 10 places near Mercer County Skating Center