New curler skating rink hopes to ‘deliver enjoyable again’ to the River Arts District

Second Gear’s constructing, one of many many companies decimated by Hurricane Helene within the River Arts District, will tackle a brand new life as a curler skating rink.

It’s half of a bigger effort to “bring fun back” to the district, which has gone with out its solely public curler rink since final 12 months’s floods, mentioned Jay Curwen, a board member of Asheville Hockey League.

“We’ve all been down there as a club, laying tile, putting boards up, all to try to get the kids back on wheels,” Curwen mentioned. “We just wanted to reactivate the River Arts District, make it more active, make it more alive.”

The Asheville Hockey League, the proprietor of the brand new rink, is placing the ending touches on the house this week. The rink just isn’t as giant because the one at Carrier Park which was flooded final 12 months and is smaller than a regulation-size rink. But Curwen mentioned it’ll be excellent for the lots of of children which have gone and not using a place to play for the final 12 months.

The facility sits on Second Gear’s previous slab basis — the one remaining vestige of the previous outside gear and gelato store. In December, Second Gear relocated to Westgate Plaza, citing that it might be too costly to rebuild in its previous location.

Rhea Lidowski, an worker at Second Gear, mentioned she’s “elated” to see the skeleton of her former office remodel into one thing new.

“It’s a step in the right direction that I think that will inspire others to create the RAD that we want to see,” she added.

While the rink is geared in direction of younger skaters, Curwen says the plan is to welcome as many individuals as doable. He’s engaged on a scaled-back model of the league’s grownup programming, in addition to a partnership with the Blue Ridge Roller Derby, the town’s first and solely curler derby league.

Asheville Hockey League can also be gunning for a daily neighborhood skate night time, the place individuals can skate free of charge. It’s a nod to this system that the town used to supply at Carrier Park. Curwen just isn’t positive how typically they’ll supply it, however he hopes to supply it weekly.

A brief South Slope rink can also be within the works

As Asheville Hockey League prepares to open its new, personal rink within the River Arts District, the City of Asheville is transferring ahead with its personal non permanent resolution as Carrier Park faces a multi-year restoration.

The metropolis announced plans to put in a brief public rink on the South Slope. It’s slated to be positioned on Asheland Avenue, proper subsequent to the Asheville Yards venue. The metropolis put out a request for proposals on July 22, and as soon as a vendor is chosen, development will start. The venture will likely be paid for with a mixture of federal catastrophe restoration cash and personal grants.