Ice skating enthusiasts will have the use of four outdoor rinks in the city this year — according to James C. Dittmar, Williamsport Recreation Commission director.

The new skating areas will be located at the Bethune-Douglass Center and J. Roy Flanagan Playground where outdoor play areas were established this summer.

Last year, skating areas were located at the Penn Street Armory and the Old Jackson Playground.

The Bethune, Flanagan and Old Jackson sites will be maintained by the neighborhood playground associations while the Armory rink will be maintained by Commission.

The four rinks will be able to accommodate a total of 1,200 skaters, Dittmar said.

The armory is the largest of the four, measuring 225 square. It can accommodate between 500 and 600 skaters.

Old Jackson, located in Newberry, measures 80×125. It will handle 250 skaters.

The Flanagan rink, located at Front and Pine Streets, has room for 225 ice skating fans. Its measurements are 90x 110.

The fourth, Bethune-Douglass, is situated on Park Avenue, measuring 75×95, its facilities will be available for 200 skaters.

Mr. Dittmar said all four skating areas will be illuminated at night.

He added that skating hours during weekdays will be 4:30 to 10 p.m. and all day on Saturdays and Sundays.

This year will mark the fourth season for skating at the Armory and the second at Jackson, the WRC director reported.

 In discussing weather needed for making the skating conditions ideal, Mr. Dittmar said the temperature must drop to 14 degrees before water in the rinks will freeze. He added that the temperature after the rinks are frozen over, must remain between 27 and 30 degrees to ensure proper skating surfaces.

“If it gets higher than 29 or 30 degrees the surface begins to get mushy,” the director said.

Last year skaters enjoyed 44 skating days compared to only three in 1953,” Dittmar explained.

The Flanagan, Old Jackson, and Bethune-Douglass rinks will be flooded as soon as weather conditions permit.