“I love Baltimore in the wintertime and this rink is the icing on the cupcake,” Mayor Rawlings-Blake said. “Plus, it’s a great place to have a cheap date.”

The mayor recalled skating in Baltimore when she was a young girl, as there was an ice rink on Rash Field that was created in 1988. The rink stayed open until 1991, reopened in 1993, closed again in 2002, and then was open seasonally from 2003-2005.

“I did my first show here in Baltimore 10 years ago,” Meissner said. “I’m excited the rink is back and I’m excited to be here.”

Both the mayor and Meissner tested out the ice rink first, along with regional dance troupe The Next Ice Age. “I’ll let you guys have all of that middle space,” Rawlings-Blake said as she gingerly made her way around the rink’s wall.

Then the rink was opened up to the public. The ice itself is still a bit bumpy with some frozen leaves and debris, but a few more nights of skating or Zamboni treatment should do the trick.

The outdoor rink will be open seasonally, until January 19. There are hockey skates available for rent for $3, admission to the rink is $9, and a season pass is available for $175. Just in time for the holidays, it will remain open on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

A nice touch is that Thursday-Sunday, there will be food and refreshments available from local food trucks. Today, La Cakerie served hot cocoa, cider, coffee, and donuts—which was much appreciated in the 30-degree temperatures.

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Baltimore, though, snuck in. Sort of.

Technically, luger Summer Britcher lists Glen Rock, PA, just up I-83 over the state line, as her hometown on her U.S. Olympic Team bio.
But the 19-year-old was born in Baltimore and her dad, Capt. William
Britcher, serves in the City’s Fire Department. Her grandfather and two
uncles have also served as Baltimore City firefighters.

According to the York Daily Record,
Britcher got her introduction to luge at a USA Luge promotional event
at Liberty Mountain Resort as an 11-year-old. She eventually went on to
play soccer at Susquehannock High School in York County while training
for the luge at Lake Placid, NY, and in Utah during the winter months.

Britcher’s best finish
to date was 8th place at an Austrian World Cup event in November. She
won a gold medal in the team relay at 2012 Youth Olympic Games.

In late December, after she qualified, her father’s station, No. 29, gave her a send-off. By coincidence, Station 29 has another Olympian in its family—former Olympic figure skater Kimmie Meissner’s brother, Nate, works at the same fire house.

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