Portland ice-dance couple marks nearly 60 years on skates amid Lloyd Center redevelopment uncertainty

A weekly tradition rooted in a 1967 partnership

A Portland couple who first skated together as teenagers in 1967 continues to lace up and take the ice at the Lloyd Center on a regular schedule, nearly six decades after their first partnership. The pair, Jerry Leonard and his wife Tally, began skating together after a professional skater suggested they compete as a team because of their similar styles. Their competitive background included ice dance, and they have remained closely tied to the rink where their partnership began.

In early 2025, the couple described their early years as a period when skating and their relationship developed in tandem, leading to marriage. They have continued returning to the same ice surface for weekly sessions, maintaining longstanding routines and a visible presence for other skaters who practice at the facility.

Why the Lloyd Center rink matters to Portland’s skating community

The Lloyd Center, which opened in 1960, has long included an ice rink that functions as a year-round gathering place for recreational skaters, figure skaters, and families. Over the decades, the rink has become one of the most identifiable remaining anchors inside the mall, which has shifted away from traditional retail and toward a mix of smaller shops and activity-based uses.

Local skaters and supporters describe the rink as more than a recreational amenity, citing its role as a consistent indoor practice space and a community hub across generations. The rink’s history has also been associated with well-known skating careers, including that of Tonya Harding, who learned to skate there.

Redevelopment plans raise questions about the rink’s future

In February 2026, skaters gathered at Portland City Hall to urge officials to pause or reconsider redevelopment steps affecting the Lloyd Center site after learning that plans to replace the mall did not include an ice rink. The site’s owners, Urban Renaissance Group and KKR Real Estate, have outlined an intention to replace the nearly 30-acre property with mixed-use development that includes housing, retail, restaurants, entertainment uses, and greenspace.

Representatives for the ownership group said the mall is no longer economically sustainable and that this financial reality extends to the operation and maintenance of the rink. The owners’ stated long-term vision has included seasonal outdoor skating rather than a full-time indoor facility.

• The Lloyd Center owners have proposed demolition of the mall and redevelopment of the site.
• Community advocates have organized around retaining an ice rink component.
• A formal city review timeline has included hearings and scheduled votes on elements of the proposal.

A personal story intersecting with a civic decision

For the Leonards, the uncertainty carries a personal dimension. Jerry Leonard has said the couple felt devastated when they learned an ice rink was not included in the redevelopment plan, describing the facility as a “home away from home.” The couple’s long-running routine—returning to the same rink where they first skated together in 1967—has become part of the public conversation about what the redeveloped site should preserve and what it may leave behind.

The outcome of the redevelopment process will determine whether Portland retains a longstanding indoor ice-skating institution at the Lloyd Center site.

As the project moves through city processes, the question of whether an ice rink remains part of the area’s future has become a focal point for skaters who view the space as both a training ground and a community landmark.