Second Gear's building, one of the many businesses decimated by Hurricane Helene in the River Arts District, will take on a new life as a roller skating rink.
It’s part of a larger effort to “bring fun back” to the district, which has gone without its only public roller rink since last year’s floods, said 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 said. “We just wanted to reactivate the River Arts District, make it more active, make it more alive.”
The Asheville Hockey League, the owner of the new rink, is putting the finishing touches on the space this week. The rink is not as large as the one at Carrier Park which was flooded last year and is smaller than a regulation-size rink. But Curwen said it’ll be perfect for the hundreds of kids that have gone without a place to play for the last year.
The facility sits on Second Gear’s old slab foundation — the only remaining vestige of the former outdoor gear and gelato shop. In December, Second Gear relocated to Westgate Plaza, citing that it would be too expensive to rebuild in its old location.
Rhea Lidowski, an employee at Second Gear, said she’s “elated” to see the skeleton of her former workplace transform into something 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 towards young skaters, Curwen says the plan is to welcome as many people as possible. He’s working on a scaled-back version of the league’s adult programming, as well as a partnership with the Blue Ridge Roller Derby, the city’s first and only roller derby league.
Asheville Hockey League is also gunning for a regular community skate night, where people can skate for free. It’s a nod to the program that the city used to offer at Carrier Park. Curwen is not sure how often they’ll offer it, but he hopes to offer it weekly.
A temporary South Slope rink is also in the works
As Asheville Hockey League prepares to open its new, private rink in the River Arts District, the City of Asheville is moving forward with its own temporary solution as Carrier Park faces a multi-year recovery.
The city announced plans to install a temporary public rink on the South Slope. It’s slated to be located on Asheland Avenue, right next to the Asheville Yards venue. The city put out a request for proposals on July 22, and once a vendor is selected, construction will begin. The project will be paid for with a combination of federal disaster recovery money and private grants.
