The beginning of construction on the Rink Sports Pavilion, a new multipurpose recreation and sports facility, is commencing on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, next to the gymnasium at the Santa Clarita Sports complex.

This new center will include a 12,000-square-foot rink with many additional amenities to keep both Santa Clarita residents and visitors entertained and involved in the community. The multi-use rink will also offer a full-sized basketball, volleyball and pickleball courts with spectator seating. In addition, the indoor 25,701-square-foot expanse will have a commercial kitchen and DJ booth.

The facility is anticipated to be an ideal venue for many events, including parties and community sports games, when it opens in 2026.

One of the biggest draws for the center is expected to be skating. The idea for this facility to have a recreational space to skate first materialized during the COVID-19 pandemic. During quarantine, residents were looking for safe and engaging ways to spend time outside with others in the community. Many hosted skating nights at the basketball courts in Central Park as a safe way to recreate outdoors. Eventually, the proposal to make a proper facility for these activities was accepted at a council meeting, although it will now be built entirely indoors.

Though the project will not be completed for another two years, the construction of this new facility is expected to boost the local economy and provide a welcoming and safe environment for the Santa Clarita community. It will especially impact kids and teens, allowing them to gather and socialize. The center will be beneficial to both the administrators who worked to tackle this project and the residents of Santa Clarita who may live or work nearby. Along with revenue made from the rink, the inclusion of this facility into our valley will also offer new opportunities for jobs and additional foot traffic that can boost small businesses in the area.

This project is currently organized into two stages. The first stage, which includes rough grading, utility adjustments, and the preparation of the building site, is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year. This means that the second phase, which involves general construction, walkways, landscaping, and more, should be in full swing by 2025.