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Throughout spring and summer, Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation (WCCPR) hosts various outdoor popup events in the community. 

While the weather may not be cooperating just yet, there’s little reason why opportunity still can’t be available. 

On Friday, Feb. 23, the organization hosted its second roller skating event, the Winter Roller Skating Pop-Up Event – Teen Night Edition, at Central Baptist Church on W. Lexington Avenue. 

“It’s just fun to connect with those youth in the community,” said Tiffany Fletcher, the assistant program director for WCCPR. “We’re happy to get to do this.” 

At the gymnasium inside Center Baptist Church, teens were not only able to access plenty of sets of roller skates, but also could skate in a room that – though otherwise dark – had various strobe-like lights illuminating the area with music playing for a uniquely positive experience. 

Access to the event was simple, with all kids by the ages of 12 to 16 welcome following a parent sign-in. 

Though individuals could pre-register for $5 through Feb.22, prices were increased only slightly to $8 for same-day registration. 

Holly Shaver, who serves as the finance director of WCCPR, came up with the idea and helped sign others into the event. 

“It was really just to have something fun to do for the kids because skating is something that we don’t have in Winchester right now,” she said. “This is just a way we can partner with Central Baptist [Church] because they have a beautiful building, they have skates, and so we just set it up.” 

While the first to specify for teenagers, it was not the first of its kind. 

In January, a younger crowd was able to partake. 

“We had over 75 kids show up for that,” Shaver said. “It could definitely lead to something bigger for our community.” 

At last Friday’s event, attendees ranged from those who hadn’t skated for quite some time and needed coaching, to kids with enough experience and know-how to have brought their own skates. 

Two of the attendees were George Rogers Clark High School freshman Emma Caudill and Allistair Stamper. 

“A lot of my mom’s friends are [going to] be here, and I really like roller skating. I’ve been roller skating for a long time,” said Stamper.  

“It was just something really fun that we could both do together,” said Caudill. 

Before the season in which flowers start to bloom arises, Fletcher notes that – with the event’s present success – hopes are for one more such event. 

“We’re hoping to do at least one more of these…maybe for all age groups,” she said, “We’re just trying to keep out in the community as much as we can.”