Asheville skating rink on track for early 2027 opening

Construction is progressing on a temporary rink to replace the skating facility damaged by Tropical Storm Helene

Fresh pavement, marked parking spaces and other site improvements are visible at 50 Asheland Ave. in downtown Asheville, where the city is building a temporary skating rink. Asheville Parks & Recreation hopes to open the rink in early 2027.

Asheville's 828 News NOWDee PridgenFresh pavement, marked parking spaces and other site improvements are visible at 50 Asheland Ave. in downtown Asheville, where the city is building a temporary skating rink. Asheville Parks & Recreation hopes to open the rink in early 2027.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Asheville’s temporary skating rink is taking shape, and the city hopes to have it open early next year.

Asheville Parks & Recreation says crews have completed much of the groundwork at 50 Asheland Ave., including grading, paving, retaining walls, curbs, fencing and parking spaces.

Over the coming weeks, crews will install the rink, along with landscaping, trees, signs and other site improvements. Additional lighting is also planned for evening skating.

The city is aiming for an early 2027 opening, although officials say the rink could be ready sooner.

The project will bring back a recreational opportunity lost when Tropical Storm Helene damaged Carrier Park in September 2024, leaving Asheville without its public skating rink.

The storm disrupted recreational skating, inline hockey and other programs that had used the Carrier Park facility.

The Asheland Avenue rink, next to the downtown ART transit station, will provide a temporary home for those activities while the city works toward building a permanent replacement at Carrier Park as part of its French Broad Riverfront Parks Recovery project.

The temporary rink could be used for up to five years while the city works on the permanent replacement.

In June, Asheville City Council approved a $682,157 contract with B. Allen Construction to prepare the site, along with a contingency of up to $102,325 for unexpected costs. The project is supported by federal Community Development Block Grant funding and city capital funds.

The temporary rink is being built on property the city eventually plans to redevelop as part of ART Place, a project that could bring affordable housing, an expanded downtown transit center and other community services to the site.

Asheville purchased the Asheland Avenue property for $2.5 million in 2021, with Dogwood Health Trust contributing $1.25 million toward the purchase as part of a commitment to include affordable housing for lower-income families.

The larger redevelopment remains in the planning stages. The city has secured federal funding for planning and conceptual design, but no construction timeline has been announced.

Residents can follow construction updates on the city’s Asheland Avenue skating rink project page. More information about the future redevelopment is available on the ART Place project page.