Wheels roller skating rink, previously slated to reopen in fall 2024, will now open by December 2024 at the earliest, say city officials.
When renovations are complete, Wheels, a beloved skating rink in East Durham, will offer skating, STEM programming, school field trips, and family nights. Eventually, it will be surrounded by an aquatic center and park that voters approved in a bond referendum last week.
After the facility’s original owner retired, Wheels Fun Park was purchased by the city in 2022. Following pressure from city residents, the city agreed to reopen the skating rink. It was originally scheduled for a spring 2024 opening and the opening date was later pushed back to fall 2024.
The site remains under construction. Durham Parks and Recreation attributes delays to adverse weather conditions and supply chain shortages.
It’s an “ever-moving process,” said Mary Unterreiner, Durham Parks and Recreation public information manager.
The rink will be operated by United Skates of America, Inc., a third-party operator that owns 20 skate centers across the country. In Durham, the new management has shortened the rink’s size to accommodate a larger birthday space and additional seating.
And, of course, “The disco balls are still there,” Unterreiner said.
Durham Parks and Recreation established a public interest steering committee to help guide the Wheels project, which met five times between 2022 and 2023. According to Unterreiner, once the new operator takes over, the city’s role will be that of a liaison.
“Because we aren’t operating [Wheels] and we’re not doing the programming, it will be up to the operator to work with the community on what they want to see,” Unterreiner said. “But we are interested in advocating for whatever that is, because we want it to be a community-oriented space. So we’ve just been trying to work as a liaison whenever we can.”
Additionally, the current construction will bring the site up to date with safety and ADA compliance measures.
Outside the rink, the outdoor go-kart space and batting cage will not reopen. The city commissioned regional artist Dare Coulter to create public art displays outside the site. Sidewalks will be updated to be ADA accessible, lighting in the parking lot will be improved, and minor landscape additions will be made around the building.
The aquatic center will be constructed in the space across the parking lot from Wheels and is scheduled to open in 2028. Funding for the facilty was recently approved after voters passed a $85 million parks and recreation bond on the November ballot, $43 million of which is set aside for the aquatic center.
The immediate next step on the Wheels site is to establish a certificate of occupancy date. This confirms that the building is safe and meets the city’s regulatory requirements. At that point, United Skates will move in.
Unterreiner estimates the certificate of occupancy will be granted in the last week of November. Lauren Fink, vice president of United Skates, said they will need at least four weeks after the certification date until they can fully open.
“As soon as we know, we’ll spread the word,” Fink said.
Above: A sign for the former Wheels Fun Park, as seen before renovations. Photo by Abigail Bromberger — The 9th Street Journal
