a velodrome in columbus? it could happen
Velodrome tops public wish list for park
Picture yourself driving down Whittier Street toward the Scioto Audubon Metro Park, hoping to see migrating birds. Instead, you come across a blur of speeding bicyclists. In a velodrome.
A velo-what?
It’s one of those steeply banked oval tracks that you might have seen during the Summer Olympics. Why would you see one at a Metro Park? It was the top pick among young professionals asked what they’d like to see at the park, which opened south of Downtown in 2009. Sure, it got only 72 votes on the Facebook page, but first is first.
Second place went to an outdoor ballroom-dance space. It was followed by a winter sports area, a wooded area with trails, a disc golf course and a community garden. In all, 423 votes were cast. John O’Meara, Metro Parks executive director, and his staff will look at the suggestions and try to determine what will work. He plans to ask his board next month to select a design firm to plan improvements for the former city impounding lot land, which was cleaned up last year.
O’Meara reached out to young professionals, whom city leaders are trying to lure to Downtown. Still, he said he didn’t expect to see a velodrome or dance space topping the list. “We’re certainly not in the ballroom business,” O’Meara said. As for a velodrome, he said, “We’ll see if it’s practical. I’m sure we won’t build an enclosed one. Too much money.” The city of Rock Hill, S.C., is building an outdoor velodrome. The price is $4 million, which will be financed with tax credits. O’Meara said that’s out of his price range, too.
In Cleveland, Fast Track Cycling Inc. plans to open a $350,000 portable track by next year. The Columbus Rotoract Club, which works with young professionals, set up the Facebook page.
Jeff Aufdencamp, an avid cyclist, said a word-of-mouth campaign generated the high number of votes for the velodrome. Aufdencamp, a businessman whose Mama Mimi’s Take N’ Bake Pizza sponsors a cycling team, said a velodrome would be a regional attraction, drawing riders from Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.
In the meantime, Metro Parks officials will pore over the ideas, which also include a concrete skate park, a BMX bike course and a zipline.
Oh. There was one vote for a cat sanctuary. In the middle of an Audubon park. Audubon, as in birds, you know. That one won’t fly.
source
Picture yourself driving down Whittier Street toward the Scioto Audubon Metro Park, hoping to see migrating birds. Instead, you come across a blur of speeding bicyclists. In a velodrome.
A velo-what?
It’s one of those steeply banked oval tracks that you might have seen during the Summer Olympics. Why would you see one at a Metro Park? It was the top pick among young professionals asked what they’d like to see at the park, which opened south of Downtown in 2009. Sure, it got only 72 votes on the Facebook page, but first is first.
Second place went to an outdoor ballroom-dance space. It was followed by a winter sports area, a wooded area with trails, a disc golf course and a community garden. In all, 423 votes were cast. John O’Meara, Metro Parks executive director, and his staff will look at the suggestions and try to determine what will work. He plans to ask his board next month to select a design firm to plan improvements for the former city impounding lot land, which was cleaned up last year.
O’Meara reached out to young professionals, whom city leaders are trying to lure to Downtown. Still, he said he didn’t expect to see a velodrome or dance space topping the list. “We’re certainly not in the ballroom business,” O’Meara said. As for a velodrome, he said, “We’ll see if it’s practical. I’m sure we won’t build an enclosed one. Too much money.” The city of Rock Hill, S.C., is building an outdoor velodrome. The price is $4 million, which will be financed with tax credits. O’Meara said that’s out of his price range, too.
In Cleveland, Fast Track Cycling Inc. plans to open a $350,000 portable track by next year. The Columbus Rotoract Club, which works with young professionals, set up the Facebook page.
Jeff Aufdencamp, an avid cyclist, said a word-of-mouth campaign generated the high number of votes for the velodrome. Aufdencamp, a businessman whose Mama Mimi’s Take N’ Bake Pizza sponsors a cycling team, said a velodrome would be a regional attraction, drawing riders from Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.
In the meantime, Metro Parks officials will pore over the ideas, which also include a concrete skate park, a BMX bike course and a zipline.
Oh. There was one vote for a cat sanctuary. In the middle of an Audubon park. Audubon, as in birds, you know. That one won’t fly.
source