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

STORY BY BENJAMIN LERNER 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK BURCHARD

Just 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. 

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. 

In doing so, Northshire Civic Center has raised the bar for Southern Vermont’s athletic community. The decision to build the Olympic-sized rink — the only one in Southern Vermont — was bold, but intentional. Longtime Board Member Jim Hand elaborates: “Most rinks are 190 by 85 feet. We said, if we’re going to go through all the effort, let’s do it right. This was never just about hockey — it was about building a public place for the community that could host all kinds of activities.”

Now, nearly three decades later, that vision has been fully realized. The facility is bustling throughout all four seasons, serving as home ice for the Burr & Burton Academy hockey teams and the Northshire Hockey Association, while also hosting adult leagues, learn-to-skate programs, turf sports, day camps, and more. From scholarship programs that ensure access for families in need, to a new capital campaign designed to secure the facility’s long-term future, Riley Rink continues to grow thanks to a resilient community and leaders like Jim Hand who have never stopped showing up. “I still play hockey,” Hand says with a grin. “Not because I’m any good—but because it’s fun. And I’m lucky enough to get from one end of the ice to the other.”

A Community’s Dream 

When Jim Hand reflects on the early days of Riley Rink, he doesn’t dwell on the obstacles. Rather, he touts and celebrates the shared determination of Susan Sargent, the original visionary behind the rink and its fundraising efforts, and the small group of dedicated citizens who believed in something bigger than themselves. “It took five years to raise the money, do the planning, and figure out what the building would look like,” adds Hand. “We met regularly, over and over again. These were just regular people: Business owners, longtime locals, and leaders who believed in the value of a space like this.”

Early funding came from well-established local families and private donors, including a substantial gift from the Hunter family. Irene Hunter played a key role in introducing the project to her husband and their friends. Barbara Riley Levin and Gerald Levin made significant contributions, as well, later becoming the namesake for the rink alongside the Hunters. According to Hand, his own father was instrumental in bringing many other prominent Manchester families on board. Hand adds: “He really helped bring people to the table.”

While initial plans called for a smaller covered rink, research and feedback from communities with successful facilities led the group to think bigger. “Everyone advised us to go Olympic-sized,” Hand explains. “If you’re going to teach people how to skate and you want the rink to be viable for the long term, you have to build a high-quality facility.”

As the vision expanded, so did the costs. What began as a $1 million idea quickly grew to a $5 million undertaking, with additional land acquisitions, site work, zoning changes, and infrastructure planning. The Civic Center also received $20,000 in support from former Vermont Governor, Howard Dean, during the groundbreaking in 1996, and the remainder was backed by a bank loan and pledges from the local community.

Longtime Board Member Jim Hand stands proudly in front of the Olympic ice rink

“It wasn’t a one- or two-year effort. It took five years of keeping the dream alive,” Hand recalls. “There were lulls where fundraising would stall, and then we’d get a spark that kept things moving. The hardest part was keeping the momentum.”

That momentum never waned. By 1997, Riley Rink opened its doors, immediately changing the landscape of local recreation. “It filled a huge void,” Hand says. “Back then, if you didn’t ski, there wasn’t much else to do in winter. This gave kids something to do. It gave families a place to gather. It gave Manchester an identity beyond just skiing.” And the vision has only continued to grow. As Hand explains, “Now, we’re a full-year kind of place. Available for kids, adults, locals, visitors — whoever wants to be part of it.”

Skating Into the Future

If the past three decades have been a testament to community vision and perseverance, the present and future of Riley Rink reflect a commitment to excellence, accessibility, and sustainability. Today, the winter months are a high point of the programming year, with the ice rink bustling from morning ‘til night. Youth hockey programs, including the Northshire Hockey Association, bring together players as young as four all the way through high school, while Burr & Burton Academy’s varsity teams proudly call Riley Rink home. Learn-to-skate programs welcome newcomers of all ages, and no-cost introductory hockey clinics ensure that financial hardship doesn’t stand in the way of a child picking up a stick for the first time.

Adult players take the ice for co-ed leagues like Main Street Hockey and the women’s Rusty Blades, or drop-in sessions like Tuesday Night Hockey and Wednesday Pick-Up. There’s also adult beginner hockey for those just starting out — all reflective of the rink’s mission to build community through inclusive recreation. “Everybody’s welcome,” says Hand. “You’ll see guys who’ve played for years skating with someone who’s trying to stay upright for the first time. And they’re all laughing together. That’s the kind of place this is.”

Off the ice, the Civic Center transitions with the seasons. After the ice is removed each spring, the facility is transformed into an indoor turf field, setting the stage for baseball, lacrosse, and soccer practices. Outdoor fields host league play through Vermont Fusion Soccer, Equinox Lacrosse, and Equinox Valley Football Club, among other leagues. Camp programs and youth sports run throughout the summer, while adult soccer and lacrosse leagues keep the energy high into fall. Meanwhile, the 18-hole disc golf course and Trackman golf simulator remain open nearly year-round, providing active outlets no matter the weather.

One of the Civic Center’s most impactful initiatives is their scholarship program. Championed by many involved parties, but especially by Barbara Levin and Paul Schwindt, it is one of the most important aspects of the Riley Rink’s mission. Thanks to a designated endowment established by early donors, the rink provides financial aid for local youth, who otherwise could not afford to participate. “We didn’t want anybody left out,” Hand says. “That’s been part of the mission since the beginning.”

Capital Campaign: Investing in the Next Generation

In 2024, the Civic Center launched a new capital campaign to ensure its long-term viability. With funds earmarked for replacing the rink floor, upgrading the dasher boards, improving critical infrastructure, and maintaining its new electric Zamboni, the campaign represents the next chapter in the story — one where Riley Rink continues to serve as Southern Vermont’s premier hub for athletics, culture, and connection.

“As much as this place has grown, we’re not done yet,” Hand added. “This facility was built by the community, for the community — and we want it to thrive for the next 30 years and beyond.”

While the current fundraising goal of $2.45 million is certainly ambitious, efforts are already well underway thanks to a $450,000 donation from a member of the Hunter family and the Hunter Charitable Fund. The first major milestone was the acquisition of the aforementioned electric Zamboni, which, alongside the heat pump and solar panel systems, brings the facility closer to carbon neutrality. 

But the capital campaign is about more than just future-proofing and energy efficiency — it’s about the Center’s ongoing legacy. Replacing the rink floor, which houses the complex piping required for ice-making, is a major undertaking. Upgrading the dasher boards will ensure safe, modern play for the next generation of skaters. And improvements to storage, lighting, and accessibility will serve the entire community, from young athletes to adult participants and visitors at seasonal events.

To that end, visitors, seasonal home owners, and lifelong locals alike are encouraged to visit the Center and become part of the greater community. “Whether you’re skating once a week or watching while your grandkid takes their first strides on the ice — this is your place, too,” says Hand. 

As the Civic Center approaches its fourth decade, one thing remains unchanged: the sense of purpose and possibility that fills the space. It’s in the laughter echoing across the rink. It’s in the camaraderie of pickup games and the pride of tournament wins. It’s in the volunteers who sharpen skates, coach youth teams, or show up with a wrench in hand when something breaks. And it’s in people like Jim Hand, who—even after all these years—can still be found at the Center most days, doing what he’s always done: showing up, lending a hand, and quietly making sure that the center is ready to welcome the next visitor. 

To learn more about how to support the campaign, reach out to the board for a tour of the facility and a conversation about what comes next – or visit 

rileyrink.com