Shortage of ice rinks in the DMV -- is there anything that we can do?

[Anonymous]

Now that my youngest child wants to play hockey, I am realizing how few ice rinks there are in the DMV.

Granted, I grew up in Minnesota, but there most high schools have their own ice rink. That's in addition to any rinks that the town, city, or county might have. (I also recently went to Boston and was blown away by the number and quality of rinks there.)

Here in the DMV, it seems like the high schools can barely find a place to skate.

My older daughter tried figure skating several years ago, but the rinks are always absurdly crowded.

I know there are new rinks in Virginia - Ion and St. James. But what about in the suburbs of MD? Could we lobby Moco to expand Cabin John or Wheaton? Those rinks seem like cash cows for the county, and there is plenty of land to expand.

[Anonymous]

NOVA - in addition to Ion and St. James, also Reston (Skatequest), Ashburn Ice House, Kettler/Medstar in Arlington, Prince William Ice Center, and Fairfax ice Arena.

MoCo - also Rockville Ice Arena

Further out in MD is The Gardens Ice House in Laurel

[Anonymous]

Forgot Mt. Vernon Ice Center in Alexandria, plus a rink in Waldorf.

[Anonymous]

Isn't there a rink in downtown Silver Spring too, or did they not open that one this year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NOVA - in addition to Ion and St. James, also Reston (Skatequest), Ashburn Ice House, Kettler/Medstar in Arlington, Prince William Ice Center, and Fairfax ice Arena.

MoCo - also Rockville Ice Arena

Further out in MD is The Gardens Ice House in Laurel

OP here. Yes, I know about all of these rinks. (We were at most of them for various events when my DD did figure skating.) But there are still very few rinks for the population and so the rinks are crowded. And the qualify is mediocre -- Rockville and Fairfax come to mind as pretty mediocre. The real shortage seems to be in Moco -- is there anything we can do for those of us who live there? Would the county consider adding rinks to the existing (mediocre) facilities at Cabin John and Wheaton?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't there a rink in downtown Silver Spring too, or did they not open that one this year?

DP here. If you're talking about a tiny outdoor rink, that's a non-starter for anyone other than recreational fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't there a rink in downtown Silver Spring too, or did they not open that one this year?

yes there is. OP there is a shortage of swimming pools too. That’s why my 8 year olds practice time was 8-9pm which is crazy. And why older kids are practicing at 5am or earlier……. It’s madness and competitive parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't there a rink in downtown Silver Spring too, or did they not open that one this year?

DP here. If you're talking about a tiny outdoor rink, that's a non-starter for anyone other than recreational fun.

it’s not tiny. And they do offer lessons. There is also a huge ice rink ( it’s called the Ice House) in Laurel which is not moco but it’s very close to the line.

[Anonymous]

Moco doesn’t offer enough summer camps either. That’s why there is craziness at midnight so we can get our basic childcare needs covered in the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't there a rink in downtown Silver Spring too, or did they not open that one this year?

DP here. If you're talking about a tiny outdoor rink, that's a non-starter for anyone other than recreational fun.

it’s not tiny. And they do offer lessons. There is also a huge ice rink ( it’s called the Ice House) in Laurel which is not moco but it’s very close to the line.

Someone is really here trying to defend the status quo, for some reason. DMV people -- we have a shortage of facilities, compared to other cities/regions.

[Anonymous]

Skating isn't a thing here - it's not the culture. You'd need to move north to get what you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't there a rink in downtown Silver Spring too, or did they not open that one this year?

DP here. If you're talking about a tiny outdoor rink, that's a non-starter for anyone other than recreational fun.

it’s not tiny. And they do offer lessons. There is also a huge ice rink ( it’s called the Ice House) in Laurel which is not moco but it’s very close to the line.

Someone is really here trying to defend the status quo, for some reason. DMV people -- we have a shortage of facilities, compared to other cities/regions.

Compared to which cities and regions, exactly? Because I'm from Boston and the same issues apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't there a rink in downtown Silver Spring too, or did they not open that one this year?

DP here. If you're talking about a tiny outdoor rink, that's a non-starter for anyone other than recreational fun.

it’s not tiny. And they do offer lessons. There is also a huge ice rink ( it’s called the Ice House) in Laurel which is not moco but it’s very close to the line.

Someone is really here trying to defend the status quo, for some reason. DMV people -- we have a shortage of facilities, compared to other cities/regions.

Compared to which cities and regions, exactly? Because I'm from Boston and the same issues apply.

Boston has a TON of rinks. It’s not comparable at all

The ones I’ve been at - because I have a figure skater. New England sports complex has like 8 beautiful rinks. SKOB just built a new rink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't there a rink in downtown Silver Spring too, or did they not open that one this year?

DP here. If you're talking about a tiny outdoor rink, that's a non-starter for anyone other than recreational fun.

it’s not tiny. And they do offer lessons. There is also a huge ice rink ( it’s called the Ice House) in Laurel which is not moco but it’s very close to the line.

Someone is really here trying to defend the status quo, for some reason. DMV people -- we have a shortage of facilities, compared to other cities/regions.

Compared to which cities and regions, exactly? Because I'm from Boston and the same issues apply.

Boston has a TON of rinks. It’s not comparable at all

The ones I’ve been at - because I have a figure skater. New England sports complex has like 8 beautiful rinks. SKOB just built a new rink.

Well duh. It's Boston. But try finding a swimming pool for a swim club.

[Anonymous]

Now you know why figure skating is a rich person's sport in the US.