By Anna Guido
Enquirer contributor

WEST CHESTER TWP. - Skatetown USA - formerly Golden Skates - will open anew Oct. 11 a little farther north than its home for 30 years.

The relocated skating rink, which closed this summer after three decades in Sharonville, is bigger and will offer twice the amenities in an upgraded recreational facility.

"We're taking a negative and turning it into a positive," general manager Ken Roesel said.

The Sharonville rink was asked to move out of the city to make way for a new fire station in a bustling commercial district near Tri-County Mall. Business and city officials negotiated a sale for several months last year before signing a deal in February.

Skatetown USA is at 8730 North Pavilion Drive, near Union Centre Boulevard and Ohio 747. Skatetown will have two rinks - one for roller-skating and one for roller hockey.

Other features include an expanded video arcade, a Noble Roman'sPizza, full-service concession area, a pro-shop, lockers and 750 new pairs of inline and roller rental skates.

Estimated total cost of the 57,000-square-foot facility is $3 million, Roesel said.

The skating rink also is hosting youth, high school and adult roller hockey leagues.

For more information, call Skatetown at 874-9855 or visit www.skatetownusa.us