front and center
How the Northshire Civic Center and Riley Rink at Hunter Park became a strong and enduring hub affecting positive change in Southern Vermont
J ust north of downtown Manchester, the Northshire Civic Center and Riley Rink at Hunter Park serves as much more than a recreational facility— it’ s a beating heart of community connection in the Northshire region, offering boundless opportunities for people to come together and grow closer through shared experiences. With an Olympic-sized indoor ice rink, a state-of-the-art Trackman golf simulator, a full-length disc golf course, indoor and outdoor turf fields, and seasonal programming that runs year-round, it provides an extraordinary range of athletic, social, and cultural offerings for locals and visitors alike. Whether hosting hockey tournaments, lacrosse games, figure skating lessons, community events, or nationally-recognized music festivals( including“ Dead of Summer” and“ Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots”), the Northshire Civic Center and Riley Rink has evolved into one of Southern Vermont’ s most vibrant and impactful facilities.
STORY BY BENJAMIN LERNER PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK BURCHARD
Since opening in 1997, the nonprofit facility has welcomed thousands of skaters, players, and families through its doors. In the years that followed its opening, the property has since expanded to encompass an additional 35 acres, enabling not only the construction of the Olympic ice rink, but the expansion of outdoor fields, a disc golf course, walking trails, and an outdoor field. From its inception, Northshire Civic Center and Riley Rink was built with a dual vision: to serve the local community year-round and to meet world-class standards with its facilities.
62 manchester life | manchesterlifemagazine. com