SPRINGDALE — The community could become more involved with ice skating because of a change in the figure skating program at the Jones Center.

For about 15 years, the Ozark Figure Skating Club has overseen basic skills skating classes, shows, competitions and practice sessions for figure skaters, said Robin Aprea, member of the club’s board.

Jones Center officials, the Arkansas Figure Skating Association and the club announced during a meeting Thursday the center will be taking over management of classes and figure skating practice times March 1.

Skating programs managed by a rink instead of a club usually connect better with the community, because rinks generally have more resources, said Erin Schopf, basic skills program manager with U.S. Figure Skating. Changes to the skating program at the center could result in more community members taking lessons and an increase in club membership. The plan proposed by the Jones Center and club is the same as most ice rinks in the nation, she said.

“A lot of times it works very well,” she said. “It’s just a matter of the rink and the club working together.”

The changes also will make it easier for the public to participate in skating classes, Aprea said. The classes used to be Tuesday evenings and will now be Saturday mornings. The change in scheduling will help parents who work weekdays to take their children to classes.

Many local people didn’t grow up ice skating, and center officials hope the changes will inspire people to try it, said Ed Clifford, Jones Center CEO. He said he would like to see the number of people using the ice double or even triple.

The schedule for figure skating practices will stay the same, but center officials are adding a session Thursday mornings, Aprea said. The center also will be offering punch cards for skaters to buy multiple practice times in advance.

Emma Taylor, 15, is a member of the skating club and said she likes the new plan because she will be able to skate more often. She thinks the increased time on the ice will make her a better skater.

Dean Rawlings, recreation coordinator, will oversee the program, said Michael Kirk, director of recreation. He’ll be advised by the coaches who teach classes and private lessons, Clifford said.

It’s also easier financially for a rink to handle a skating program than a nonprofit club, such as the Ozark Figure Skating Club, Schopf said.

Officials in the skating club were renting the ice for lessons and practices, Aprea said. Prices for renting the ice went up over the years, and the club was struggling financially because of it. The club was paying $120 an hour to rent the ice, Clifford said.

“We wanted to take some financial burden off the figure skating people,” he said. “It was getting really difficult for them.”

Jennifer McLellan’s daughter skates four to five days a week as a member of the club, and she said the new plan will save her money.

“This is just going to make it a lot more feasible for my daughter,” she said.