ST. JOHNSBURY — A long-envisioned regional ice and recreation center in St. Johnsbury may be moving closer to reality, with developers pursuing property on Bay Street and expressing interest in including the facility as part of the area’s redevelopment.

R.I.N.K., the nonprofit that operates the Fenton Chester Ice Arena in Lyndon Center, received a $100,000 grant from the Town of St. Johnsbury in 2023 to help explore development of a regional recreation complex on Bay Street.

R.I.N.K. Director Scott Beck said this week that the organization has used a small portion of the grant to investigate potential parcels and assess land values. Most of the money remains available.

More significantly, Beck said, R.I.N.K. is now talking with developers interested in the same area.