Howard County could soon build its first public ice rinks

Sharpen your blades, skaters.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball’s budget proposal for the next fiscal year sets aside $3.5 million to build the county’s first public ice rinks at the Meadowbrook Athletic Complex in Ellicott City. Ball touted the project Thursday as a boon to economic development and to accessibility.

Officials estimate the addition of two competitive-sized rinks and auxiliary space could attract multiday tournaments and events, create more than 100 jobs and generate over $30 million in economic impact for the county each year, a county news release states.

It would also cut down on the time and cost of travel, which are barriers for some residents to participate in the more than 50 school teams that participate in the Maryland Student Hockey League, as well as other youth programs, pickup matches, figure and recreational skating, and adult programs, the release states.

“Too many families in Howard County are forced to travel to other jurisdictions just to find ice,” Ball said. The added time and cost of doing so, he added, poses a barrier to some residents.

“This is not just another sheet of ice for skaters,” he said. “It’s about building something that strengthens our entire community.”

The county’s only permanent ice rink is owned by the Columbia Association, which operates from August to June. The Merriweather District also operates a seasonal rink around the holidays.

The proposed addition at Meadowbrook would share an entryway with the existing facility and include restrooms, seating, concessions, locker rooms and off-ice training space.

The announcement came with messages of support from officials for the Howard County Youth Hockey Club, Columbia Figure Skating Club, the Howard County Economic Development Authority and Visit Howard County.

Earlier this month, Howard’s department of recreation and parks held a public meeting to gather feedback on the plan, which has percolated for years. The county first held a meeting to gauge community interest and hear concerns in the fall of 2022, the release states. Since then, county officials say, they have conducted multiple economic and feasibility studies, developed concept plans, reviewed traffic studies and completed economic impact analyses.

Ball’s budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins July 1 is preliminary and still subject to public input and County Council approval.