Tampa Bay Lightning Gives Big Boost to Local Hockey With New Upgrade at Pinellas Park Rink

The Lightning Foundation will spend $100,000 to transform an outdoor rink at Sprowls Horizon Sports Park in Pinellas Park. Workers aim to wrap up the project by February 2026.

Fresh flooring, new benches, and a modern scorebox will update the rink within the sports complex. This site will replace the aging Youth Park spot.

"It's important for the growth of hockey in the Pinellas County area," said Josh Dreith, director of community and hockey development, according to St. Pete Catalyst. "We want to give young kids the opportunity to learn the game of hockey after we visit them at a school."

Six turf diamonds will shine at the heart of the complex. Players can practice at six batting cages, while others enjoy the multipurpose field or playground. Construction started last December.

Back in 2019, the NHL team funded the first rink at Youth Park. When city plans surfaced about redevelopment, they jumped at the chance to make things better.

No other hockey spots exist in Pinellas Park. "It's a unique offering to that community," Dreith said.

Staff from the Lightning will run programs at the complex. They want everyone — kids, teens, and adults —  to get a shot at playing.

Pinellas Park City Manager Bart Diebold shared his thoughts, "Our greatest hope is that as kids step onto this rink, seeing that iconic Lightning logo, they'll be inspired to dream big — envisioning themselves as the next Nikita Kucherov or Victor Hedman, and believing anything is possible."

The baseball section mirrors spring training fields from the major leagues. This shows how much the city wants its people to have first-rate places to play sports.