After years of scheduling ice time in other places, skaters in Baltimore County have their own indoor rink with the opening of a $6 million sports facility at Reisterstown Regional Park.
The 58,000-square-foot Reisterstown Sportsplex includes a 200-foot-by-85-foot ice rink and a 180-foot-by-80-foot indoor soccer and lacrosse field with artificial turf.
The facility opened to skaters this week, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held yesterday.
"There was a great need for this facility because there are more and more hockey teams, skating groups, and colleges with adult leagues who are looking for ice rinks," said Hanan Y. Sibel, chairman of the board of the Baltimore County Revenue Authority. "And we didn't have any in the county."
County Executive James T. Smith Jr. said he has been anticipating the opening since Christmas. He said he gave his three grandchildren boxes with pictures of ice skates in them so they could be fitted for skates to wear to the sportsplex.
"I may not be out on the ice, but I will be a spectator when my grandchildren are there skating," he said. "It's a magnificent place that will be enjoyed by thousands of people."
The facility is a collaboration between the county government and the revenue authority, which also runs golf courses and parking garages and lots.
The council approved in March 2006 what was expected to be a $5 million project, with county government and the revenue authority splitting the cost. By January 2007, the cost estimate had risen to $5.9 million, and council voted to spend $445,000 more to help cover the increase, mostly in the price of building materials. Although some council members voiced concern about the additional cost, others said the benefit to county residents made the expense worth it.
Smith said he has received numerous phone calls over the years from people looking for ice rinks.
"There are thousands of children out there who play in youth sports leagues. They are forced to go to commercial facilities to play in sports," he said. "But in some cases the kids can't afford it. The facility will give everyone a chance to participate in ice sports."
The combination of an ice rink and sports field in one building is part of a national trend, said Tom Hillgrove, president of Rink Management Services Inc., a Richmond, Va.-based company that provides turnkey management services to 28 facilities, including the Reisterstown Sportsplex.
"Combining ice rinks and indoor sports fields is a new phenomenon," said Hillgrove, who will oversee the management of the facility. "But it's the way the recreation industry has to go."
He said the sportsplex is efficiently designed, environmentally friendly and conveniently located at 401 Mitchell Drive, near Interstate 795 and Route 140.
In addition to the rink and field, the facility will have meeting rooms, a locker room, skate rental and a concession stand.
Top-of-the-line rental skates are being used, Hillgrove said. "These new skates are more stable, and more comfortable," he said. "The earlier styles of skates hurt the ankles, and a lot of people wouldn't skate in them."
Events are scheduled throughout the weekend at the sportsplex. They include a soccer exhibition game, learn-to-skate and public skating sessions, and a benefit hockey game.