VALarena rolls on with nearly $5,250 raised by community so it can reopen Friday

After an 11-month closure, the VALarena skating rink in North Apollo will reopen Friday, aided by nearly $5,250 raised by the community.

A local institution for 70 years, the VALarena, which stands for Vandergrift, Apollo and Leechburg arena, shut down at the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic early last year because it was considered a non-essential business.

Adding to the roller rink’s woes were mounting expenses for repairs and renovations, including a new roof, plus other costs associated with reopening.

When word reached the community last year that the rink was delaying its reopening, after some pandemic restrictions were lifted, the community rallied. Two residents started GoFundMe campaigns and raised nearly $5,250 for the ailing rink.

“We are very grateful and humbled,” said owners Fred and Debra Knepshield of Kiski Township. “We feel very blessed that our customers and the community continue to respect and appreciate our business.”

New operations at the rink will be a little different, though.

The two-hour skating sessions will be limited to 50 people in the building at one time.

Customers will have to buy tickets — including observers — in advance online via the VALarena’s Facebook page. Other details such as session times, admission prices, and other information will be available on rink’s Facebook page as well.

“We are going to reopen in a safe manner and adhere to CDC pandemic guidelines,” the Knepshields said. Only a portion of the customers will be allowed in the building at any time because of covid-19 health regulations.

Pre-pandemic patronage on a typical weekend at the rink would attract on average about 1,000 skaters and visitors. Plus, inline hockey skaters and other groups used the facility during weekdays.

The restrictions on attendance are temporary measures to keep the public safe until the pandemic eases, the couple said.

When the rink announced the delay in reopening in August because of financial issues, its Facebook page blew up with 17,000 views.

Also at issue was the imminent retirement of the Knepshields. Pre-pandemic, they were planning to retire when they could renovate the rink facility and sell the business to someone to carry on the roller rink tradition.

Deeply disappointed with the potential closure, the public rallied.

Area residents Deneen Legarsky and Adam Seevers set up separate GoFundMe pages, Valarena Roller Rink Reopening and Help Open The Valarena. Combined they raised nearly $5,250, enough for the VALarena to reopen.

Legarsky, from Kiski Township’s Spring Church neighborhood, has been skating at the North Apollo rink since she was 6 years old.

“It was the best place to grow up,” Legarsky said. At the rink she met many friends from other small towns such as Leechburg, Vandergrift, Ford City and North Apollo, including the Knepshields.

“Locally, the VALarena is the only fun form of entertainment for the kids,” she said. “So I had to try and help my friends, the building and my cherished memories.”

Seevers could not be reached immediately for comment.

Online ticket sales will be available Monday evening or Tuesday morning. The online link to buy tickets will be posted on the VALarena’s Facebook page.