Grand Rapids, Michigan, offers numerous options for roller skating enthusiasts. Whether you're looking for indoor rinks or outdoor spaces, there's something for everyone. From public skating sessions to skate parks, Grand Rapids provides a variety of venues to enjoy this fun and social activity.
Indoor Roller Skating Rinks
Grand Rapids has some great roller rinks for indoor skating. Here are a couple of notable mentions:
Tarry Hall
Roller skating never went out of style at Tarry Hall, which has been operating since 1959 in Grandville, about 15 minutes southwest of downtown Grand Rapids. Tarry Hall offers public skating sessions Thursdays-Sundays, with different musical selections each session.
- Thursday: Adult Night, reserved for skaters aged 18 and up.
- Friday: Faster paced skating (no strollers, wheelchairs or Skate-mates allowed).
- Saturdays and Sundays: Suitable for all ages and abilities.
Beginner skating lessons are taught by Roller Skating Association Certified instructors, the pro shop is stocked with a wide variety of skates and accessories, and you can refuel at a fully stocked snack bar. If you’re still hungry (and thirsty) after your adventure, Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille, just a few hundred yards away, serves burgers, steaks, sandwiches, salads and more, along with craft beer and cocktails.
GR Skate & Event Center
Another longtime community fixture, opened in 1949, GR Skate & Event Center has two area locations: Kentwood, 15 minutes south of downtown Grand Rapids, and Byron Center, 20 minutes southwest. GR Skate Kentwood offers five days of public skating sessions each week, including a 21+ Adult Skate on Thursday evenings and a Family Skate on Saturday afternoons.
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You’ll enjoy free admission during “Cheap Skate” on Thursday afternoons, otherwise admission starts at $8. Both locations have skate shops filled with skates and gear along with experienced staff who can help you find just the right products for your ability and budget. The Roll-and-Dash Café serves a menu of pizza, chicken, hot dogs and more during public skate hours.
Rosa Parks Circle Ice Rink opening for the season
Outdoor Rollerblading Spots
For those who prefer outdoor skating, Grand Rapids offers several options:
555 Monroe Skate Park
Rollerbladers share downtown GR’s 555 Monroe Skate Park with skateboarders, BMX riders and scooter riders, thanks to features ranging from low ledges to half pipes. This is the place to practice your skills on rails, stairs and other obstacles.
Highland Park
Less than 10 minutes from downtown GR, Highland Park was upgraded in 2023 with two new multi-sports courts for rollerblading, roller hockey, bike polo, shuffleboard, futsal and more. Both courts are lighted. There are no set times for each sport, so you’ll have to show up and see what’s happening. If the courts are already in use for something else, you can bide your time on the park’s bouldering walls, just steps away.
City Central Park
About 20 minutes northwest of downtown GR in the city of Walker, City Central Park has an outdoor inline skating rink that hosts free drop-in roller hockey games on summer Wednesday nights and is frequently used by practitioners seeking to polish their skills.
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Linear Parkways for Rollerblading
Grand Rapids boasts a number of “linear parkways” that are ideal for rollerblading (as well as hiking, biking and cross-country skiing). These paved trails typically follow abandoned railroad beds over mostly flat terrain.
Kent Trails
Kent Trails, a 15-mile rail trail that runs through the cities of Grand Rapids, Grandville, Walker, Wyoming and Byron Center. A trailhead can be accessed five minutes from downtown GR, across the street from John Ball Zoo.
Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park
Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park, a 92-mile trail connecting Grand Rapids and Cadillac to the north. You can link to the trail from Riverside Park, less than 10 minutes north of downtown GR, and follow it through Comstock Park, Belmont, Rockford and Cedar Springs on its way out of Kent County - a distance of nearly 20 miles.
Grand Raggidy Roller Derby
If you view roller skating as more of a spectator sport, you’ll be happy to know that Grand Rapids has its own roller derby league, Grand Raggidy Roller Derby (GRRD). A founding member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, GRRD consists of two teams: the All-Stars, who travel and compete with teams internationally, and the Attack, who compete with teams throughout Michigan and neighboring states.
If you’re interested in skating for GRRD, the league hosts a Basic Training program three times a year. It’ll introduce you to the sport and teach you how to safely play roller derby. No previous derby experience is required. You don’t even have to know how to skate!
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Roller skating in Grand Rapids is easy, convenient and fun, whether it’s your first time or your hundredth.
