Northwest ice rink
In some respects, the rumors about Michael Phelps acquiring the old Northwest Family Skating Center to expand Meadowbrook into a larger training center makes sense. The rink is right next to where North Baltimore Aquatic Club runs its programs, and the best swimming club in the country needs more room to meet demand. A new ice rink opened in Reisterstown last winter, the first of its kind in Baltimore County since the 1970s, so the folks who run Northwest in Mount Washington might have felt this was a good time to sell out.
But there's one thing about this that makes no sense -- the whole area is a flood zone. When the Jones Falls rises in heavy rains, muddy waters comes a'gushin' everywhere. I've seen mud spread onto the ice rink. (Maybe Phelps and his associates think they can have a white-water kayaking center there, too.)
Hey, it's none of my business what the golden boy does with his money, but if it was me, I'd be talking to the city of Baltimore about including the Michael Phelps Aquatic Sports Center in the new downtown arena, not at Meadowbrook.
Comments
What was that line about a fool and his money?
Since the current management of Meadowbrook is asking that everyone hold their horses until a deal is signed, perhaps cooler heads, perhaps Cal's, will intercede and bring the high flyer closer to earth before the checks are written.
Posted by: Bruce Robinson | August 21, 2008 1:30 PM
I do know that the folks who skate there now are unhappy about having to find another place to skate. Yes, places exist, but are farther away.
I figured it was the owners selling because they wanted to get out of the business and the rink was their retirement package.
-Ty Ford
Posted by: Ty Ford | August 22, 2008 7:30 AM
Dan,
How do you fit 10,000+ spectators in the basement (where you previously mentioned the pool going)? Do you make the arena floor retractable to show the pool underneath? Perhaps the pool could be hydraulically lifted up the arena floor level. Either way sounds expensive.
The Qwest Center in Omaha built a temporary pool on the arena floor for the recent U.S. trials.
I do agree with your questioning the logic of investing in a flood plain.
Posted by: Paul | August 22, 2008 8:43 AM
What I find humorous is how swimming has become such a major sport and that more venues are required so we can produce more Michael Phelps. Funny, when the Winter Olympics are on, the skating rink is inundated with new skaters wanting to be Kimmie Meissner. So now we need to sacrafice one sport for the other? And anyone that mentions another rink "close by" doesn't understand the magnitude of this closure for all involved.
Posted by: L M | August 22, 2008 9:40 PM
Downtown Baltimore is the area that needs development and has all the amenities to welcome Olympic level swimmers. Mt. Washington is a small cute village with a rink, a pool, Whole Foods, Starbucks and several great restaurants. Let's keep it this way!
Posted by: Save Northwest | August 22, 2008 10:28 PM