New London — This winter the Parade at the foot of State Street could be the city's version of Rockefeller Center.

Monday night, the City Council approved $78,592 for a 45-by-90 foot synthetic skating rink, which will be open to the public December, January and February.

The city will purchase the portable rink from Ice Rink Engineer and Manufacturing for $47,860, and wall to go around the rink from Sports Resource Group for $27,732. An additional $20,000 will be appropriated at a later date to purchase a sales booth, skates, and a music system.

New London Main Street, which first proposed leasing a rink for $40,000 for one month as a way to liven up the downtown business district during the winter months, will operate the rink.

The rink is scheduled to open Thanksgiving weekend.