Lakewood will be getting a new facility for a rather uncommon pastime; a whole center will be dedicated to the sport of curling. Of course, if it needs its own center, perhaps it is not so uncommon.
The Denver Curling Center will begin construction in October with design plans still pending. It will not be the only addition to the property located east of Indiana Avenue, near Colorado Mills Boulevard. The Colorado State Patrol Museum and Learning Center will also share the 4.7 acre property.
Case Manager Heather Gutherless reported a slight increase in traffic once the site opens with a reported 92 additional trips during peak hours. The center will have 50 available parking spaces, with 30 parking spaces proposed at the museum and learning center which should help keep parking off the streets, said Gutherless.
The Denver Curling Center will be the first of its kind in Colorado and house the Denver Curling Club, who has had trouble with ice time for practices at the Ice Ranch in Littleton. Now they will be able to have tournaments.
Tim Brock, who hopes to be a member of the Denver Curling Club, said the new center will bring more customers to local businesses and restaurants, and bring the good nature of the curling culture to the community.
“If you look at the true spirit of curling, unlike so many other sports, it promotes a good sportsmanship, camaraderie, among not just fellow curlers and teams but even towards their fellow man,” said Brock. “That’s a culture that will spill out from the center into the community and definitely give a positive impact.”
The Colorado State Patrol will move their history displays which are scattered at two different locations into their new 10,000-square-foot building. The new learning center will also provide driver education and driving safety programs.
“We have a proud history in the Colorado State Patrol that dates back to 1935,” said Scott Hernandez, chief of Colorado state patrol. “This is an opportunity for us to showcase that history and that history of saving lives.”
