Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Community urges city to preserve Highlands Grange roller rink; staff says hockey will continue
Summary
Residents urged the council May 5 to keep the Highlands Grange roller rink after a petition; city staff said the rink will not be removed and described plans to accommodate both roller hockey and futsal to increase use while addressing safety concerns about old goals.
Kennewick — Dozens of residents and a petition drive prompted discussion at the May 5 Kennewick City Council meeting about the future of the Highlands Grange roller rink, and city staff said they are working toward a compromise that would preserve hockey while expanding other uses.
Cameron, a Kennewick resident who spoke during the visitor comment period, said the rink is "more than just an empty court" and described it as the only roller-rink facility in the Tri-Cities that fosters community and recreation. "Please allow us hockey lovers to enjoy a space where we can play our game," he said.
Deputy City Manager Kerry Rose updated council on staff outreach and use history. Rose said the rink has not been heavily rented — roughly 25 bookings by a local roller-derby group — but staff found an active hockey community that uses the site. Rose described an injury involving old goals that led staff to remove those particular goals for safety assessment, and said staff are exploring adding futsal markings and goals on one end to broaden programming. "There was never a scenario where hockey wasn't gonna be allowed to continue on that space," Rose said, adding staff are working on safe storage and transfer of goals so both hockey and futsal can be accommodated.
City staff said they met with petition organizer Micah Dunn and are close to detailing safe handling and storage options for goals. The staff presentation emphasized outreach and an intent to increase overall use, not eliminate hockey.
Why it matters: The rink is a unique recreational asset for kids and adults who use it for skating, hockey and community events; council and staff framed the question as how to balance safety, equipment handling and broader access.
What happens next: Staff said they will continue working on operational details, including goal storage and safe setup/teardown procedures, and will report back to council as needed.
