A new recreation center and ice arena are drawing attention to Billings’ South Side as community leaders say a cluster of recent investments signals a broader economic shift in the area. The Amend Recreation Center is slated to open in early August, and local officials and business owners believe the facility will accelerate development that has been quietly building for years.

Signs of a Turnaround

South Side Task Force treasurer and Billings City Council member Bill Kennedy pointed to roughly five years of gradual improvement along the corridor. “The South Side of Billings is not the place on the other side of the tracks,” Kennedy said, pushing back against the area’s older reputation as an overlooked part of the city.

Several businesses have opened in the vicinity recently, including Lava Island, which launched last year, and both Maple Moose and El Buen Sazón, which have opened within the past year. A Hampton Inn at 5110 Southgate Drive is also part of the corridor’s commercial presence.

Hospitality and Retail Upside

Cathy Cullen-Kuhr, whose comments reflected optimism among hospitality operators in the area, predicted the rec center and ice arena would lift hotel performance across the region. “You’re definitely going to see an increase in occupancy in our hotels and all of the hotels in this corridor and, in fact, in the whole city,” she said.

Sports tourism tied to ice arena events is seen as a key driver, with visiting teams and families expected to book rooms and patronize local restaurants and retailers.

Housing Coming Too

The commercial activity is being matched by residential investment. Crews broke ground in April on a South Hills affordable workforce housing project near Sam’s Club that will produce 35 homes. Community leaders see the housing development as a signal that the South Side is attracting residents as well as businesses.

State Sen. Mike Yakawich, who represents south Billings, has been among the elected officials tracking the area’s development closely.

Ice Arena Setback, but No Delay

The Signal Peak Ice Arena, which is tied to the broader South Side development push, suffered a theft, though organizers confirmed the incident will not push back the opening timeline. The Amend Recreation Center remains on schedule for early August.

The combination of new dining, hospitality, housing, and recreational infrastructure represents one of the more concentrated bursts of South Side activity in recent memory. Community leaders say the momentum, if sustained, could redefine how Billings residents and visitors perceive the area for years to come.