Just in time for the winter dek hockey season, a new rink is open in Settler’s Cabin Park. 

Work on the rink was completed in October and electronics were hooked up in early December when officials presided over a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

A free instructional youth clinic was held on Saturday, Jan. 17, and teams are being assembled for the winter dek hockey season which starts this weekend, Jan. 24.

The sport is played year-round and outdoors. 

“We will run four seasons,” said Andy Baechle, director of the Allegheny County Parks Department. “In this first season we are testing the waters.”

Information about the hours the rink operates and the cost to use it is not yet up on the county website, Mr. Baechle said, because “we don’t know yet how much time the leagues will use. If you’re in the park and see the rink is empty, you’re welcome to use it for a pick-up game at no cost.”

Rink rental is $40 an hour for residents and $50 for non-residents.

Settler’s Cabin Park is in parts of Collier, North Fayette and Robinson townships. The dek hockey rink is near the tennis courts, off Ridge Road.

The rink was built as part of the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation Project Power Play initiative, which is a $2.3 million plan to build 12 dek hockey rinks in Pittsburgh and surrounding communities. Highmark is providing $1.3 million in funding.

So far 10 rinks have been built, including one in North Park which was completed late last year.

Each dek hockey rink features multi-sports courts, scoreboards, sheltered benches, a penalty box and scorer’s table. The game is played on a non-ice surface.

“We did see a demand for more dek hockey” facilities, Mr. Baechle said.

First Published: January 22, 2015, 5:00 a.m.