Goodbye Fake Turf, Hello Ice Rink

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FANS OF THE FAKE TURF at Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street, in Silver Spring are likely still mourning last week's vote that green-lighted a plan to replace the fake grass with a veterans memorial, pavilion and ice skating rink as part of a new civic center.

The fake turf, which was meant only to be used as temporary way to make a vacant lot more inviting, became a much-praised public space, and a "venue for some of the best people-watching in the region," The Post's Marc Fisher wrote last year. Fisher opined then that it would be sad to see the turf go, and now that that decision is upon us, some are still questioning whether the new $22 million scheme will be as successful.

From Silver Spring Scene:

Proponents of the turf have said outdoor ice skating rinks have failed in the Kentlands and downtown Bethesda and that the pavilion and Veterans Plaza intended to be hardscape would not be enjoyable for recreational use or have the flexibility of the turf.

Proponents were also wary of the costs of maintaining the ice skating rink, such as cooling in warmer winters and wondered if it would eventually be subsidized by tax payers down the road if it was not successful.

So go enjoy the turf while it lasts. It'll be ripped up when construction on the new civic center begins in the fall.

» "Silver Spring Shifts Focus From Open Lot to Plaza" [WaPo]
» "Up for Debate: Is Silver Spring's Fake Grass Cheap?" [Free Ride/Express]
» "Silver Spring's 'Turf' Hangout a Dream Cut Too Short" [Marc Fisher/WaPo]
» "Veterans Plaza/Pavilion and Ice Skating Rink Approved" [Silver Spring Scene]

Photo by Kevin Clark/The Washington Post