$500K state grant offers lifeline to aging Patterson Park ice rink

The moment Earl Thomas walks into the Mimi DiPietro Family Skating Center, the memories come flooding back.

Thomas — not the former Ravens safety — was one of the original Baltimore Banners, a hockey team that draws kids from historically Black neighborhoods and provides them guidance through their adolescent years. On Saturday, he returned to the rink as an alumnus to support the team for its annual “Bridge the Gap” game.

This year’s game took on an extra level of importance. The Banners are fighting to keep their Patterson Park ice, which is showing signs of decay after four decades of use.

“We learned everything through this ice rink,” Thomas said.

Though the long-term future of the rink remains in question, the DiPietro Center will be receiving temporary relief in the form of a $500,000 grant from the state of Maryland.

Shortly before dropping the puck on Saturday, Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson made the announcement, calling it “absolutely essential that we find a way to keep this rink open.”

“The hope [is] that this gives us the five years of runway so that we can make sure that the next investment, the next DiPietro rink 2.0, is even better than this incredible space today,” Ferguson said.

The grant could cover expenses to fix the foundation of the rink’s pumping room, which is critical for keeping the ice frozen.

Ferguson, who lives a few blocks east of the park, remembers bringing his children to the rink for skating lessons.

“Our family memories are made here,” he said. “I know that’s the same for thousands and thousands of other families. This is just an incredible unique asset.”

The Banners, who are run by the Tender Bridge Foundation, are reliant on the rink to stay viable. Volunteer coaches provide transportation for players, who mostly live in East Baltimore. The Mount Pleasant Ice Arena, where the team practices whenever the DiPietro is unavailable, is a 20-minute drive away.

Keeping the DiPietro up and running is of the utmost importance.

“Man, it’s everything,” said Jack Burton, a Banners coach. “It’s our home. This is where we started this program. It’s the place that brings us together and the reason that we have such a tight bond and a close community.”

The “Bridge the Gap” game began seven years ago as a fundraiser, and it’s taken on different meaning over the years. In years past, The Banners have played firefighters and policemen. This year’s opponent was Team Huss from Reisterstown.

Banners alumni, such as Thomas, flock back to the DiPietro for the game. Now 31, Thomas is a journeyman technician who owns his own trucking company. His younger brother, Ian, stuck with football, became an NFL draft pick at tight end in 2018 and just completed his eighth year in the league.

Thomas credits the Banners with helping him navigate life as a teen in Baltimore.

“It was a tremendous help in keeping us off the street, keeping us in sports and different activities,” Thomas said.