PORT ANGELES – The Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce plans to bring a roller rink to downtown PA this summer.
Chamber Director Marc Abshire says the roller-skating rink will be located where the current ice-skating rink is located. Plans are to run it for a couple of months between June and August.
Abshire says the rink idea comes as a natural extension of what has happened in the space each winter the past few years.
“The proof of concept of a skating activity downtown, the community has pretty much proven that we can do that with the ice rink. And then feedback from many members of the community. Suggesting ‘boy, it sure would be nice to have a roller skating rink again in town’. So that and then the other factor is that the company that we rent the ice skating rink from also does by chance provide roller skates and roller rink equipment,” said Abshire.
Abshire says they plan to have similar set up as the winter ice village with some refreshments and places to watch skaters. They’ll offer both traditional and in-line skates, and fees will not be more than what have been charged for the Winter Ice Village sessions and rental. Abshire says proceeds from the Winter Ice Village will help pay for the roller rink.
Long term, this is the start to bringing activities to that lot in downtown Port Angeles throughout the year.
“We are planning to do other things in that space, besides just a roller rink and an ice rink. We’re also investigating things like an electric go-kart operation there, you know, for a period of a month or so, you know, at some point as well. So we’re kind of looking at calling it the Downtown Outdoor Recreation Center or something along those lines,” said Abshire.