A group of Philadelphia bicycle-racing enthusiasts is speeding ahead with plans for an ambitious, Olympic-class arena that is intended to position the city as the leader of the nation’s growing track-cycling culture, while also providing space for the public to learn and practice the sport.
But to realize the $100 million velodrome, whose swooping form would echo the banked curves of a bicycle track, the city would have to give the organizers a four-acre parcel in South Philadelphia’s historic FDR Park, the city’s only green space designed by the famous firm founded by Frederick Law Olmsted
Named Project 250, the privately planned arena has excited the imaginations of cyclists, who believe a state-of-the-art, 250-meter bike track would become a top U.S. venue for international races. The arena, which would occupy a Broad Street site across from the Sports Complex, has already won strong backing from Mayor Nutter and Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, as well as from the Friends of FDR Park and neighborhood groups.
Looks awesome. It would be about 40 miles closer to me than Trexlertown which would be a nice bonus.
Good luck. We had a group trying to build a much more modest track in DC but they never could get any traction. Considering how may track cycling medals are awarded at the Olympics you would think the US Olympic Committee would step up and help.
Is this the same group that was trying to build one out in Coatesville before that project fell through?
Which is the same group that tried to do it in Audubon before that and it fell through. If it is in fact the same group, they’ve been talking about this for almost a decade.
while i’d like to see this happen, this would mean three velodromes in PA. is there actually that much of a demand? i guess it could potentially draw people from NYC down to DC
