Kissena Velodrome Grand Reopening
Official Press Opening Wednesday April 21
Grand Reopening Day 1 Saturday April 24
Sunday April 25
NYC Parks Sports Comnmission April 6, 2004
The Kissena Velodrome, New York City's only bicycle track, is introducing its new surface to the world
with a national-level track meet on the weekend of April 24 and 25, as part of the American Velodrome Challenge.
The track, located in Flushing, Queens' Kissena Park, was built for the 1964 Olympic Trials, hasn't hosted a
national-level event in decades.
The velodrome, operated continuously since 1964, was closed for the 2003 season so repairs could take place.
The track was re-paved, new stands were built, a new officials' tower was built, and a fence was built around the track,
increasing safety for riders. The repairs are now complete and racers are itching to have a go on the banked oval.
Racers are expected to attend from around the country. Kissena's debut will be the fourth national track event of the year.
It will be a prelude to a World Cup qualifier held the next weekend, so expect racers honing their top form. High speeds will ensue.
In addition to the national-level competition, there will be races for kids and messengers.
The Marty Nothstein Junior Olympic Series, sponsored by the Olympic and World Champion of the same name, gives junior racers a chance to
show their stuff. The messenger races, both for individuals and teams, will demonstrate how battling for speed and position against cars
translates to battling for speed and position on a closed track.
The action begins Saturday, April 24 at 11:50am with the rededication ceremony. Racing begins immediately thereafter,
with the program of races running until 5pm. Sunday's program is about speed--a Record Attempt day.
Since the track was shortened by three meters, from 403 meters to 400, all the old records are worthless.
Sunday action begins at noon and runs until four.
The Kissena Cycling Club is promoting this track meet. Kissena was founded with the creation of the velodrome
and has been a force in bicycle racing ever since. Kissena members have gone on to become state, national,
and international champions both on the track and road.
Kissena Velodrome Info
The Kissena Park Siegfried Stern Memorial Velodrome is an outdoor 400-meter banked asphalt bicycle track.
First opened in 1963, the track was renovated in 2003.
Located in Kissena Park in Flushing, Queens, N.Y., the entrance is on Booth Memorial Ave. at intersection of Parsons Blvd.
Official Kissena Velodrome Info
Track Director: John Campo, 212-431-9732
Chief Referee: Don Winston, 516-767-3423
Track Rules
Riders must wear ANSI- or Snell-approved helmets. All bicycles must have drop handlebars with plugs,
a fixed gear and a lockring. Minors must have a parent's signature of approval to compete.
Kissena Loaner Track Bikes
Kissena Cycling Club offers several track bikes for use by cyclists who wish to
try track racing and don't have a track bike. Bikes are donated by Bianchi, Fuji,
and Bike Works NYC.
Directions to Velodrome
BY #7 TRAIN to end of line at Main St. in Flushing, ride (1.0 miles) south on Kissena Blvd. to Kissena Park, turn left at Booth Memorial Ave., then left at Parsons Blvd. to Velodrome entrance.
BY F TRAIN to Parsons Blvd., Queens, ride (2 miles) north uphill on Parsons Blvd., veer left on Kissena Blvd., right turn on Booth Memorial Ave., then left at Parsons Blvd. to Velodrome entrance; or stay on Parsons Blvd., cross LIE on pedestrian bridge at 159 St., then cross Booth Memorial Ave. to Velodrome entrance.
BY MOTOR VEHICLE FROM WEST on Long Island Expressway to Exit 24, follow Horace Harding frontage road, turn left at Kissena Blvd., turn right at Booth Memorial Ave., then left at Parsons Blvd. to Velodrome entrance.
FROM EAST on Long Island Expressway to Exit 24, follow Horace Harding frontage road, turn right at Parsons Blvd., cross Booth Memorial Ave. to Velodrome entrance.
|
|
Kissena Velodrome Renovation
Renovation Photo Journal
A sereis of pictures and comments
following progress of track renovation
from Autumn 2002 to Spring 2004.
This series has been removed from this website.
It is available by request.
City to Spend $192,000
on Velodrome in Kissena Park
Queens Chronicle
October 3, 2002
by Liz Rhoades
A major renovation project on the Kissena Park Velodrome got under way this week
and is expected to take three weeks to complete. "This is fantastic news.
We've been waiting for this for a long time," said John Campo of the Kissena Cycling Club.
According to the Parks Department, allocations of $192,000 have been made.
An additional $80,000 in private gifts will be used to add guard rails and accessories.
Queens Parks Commissioner Richard Murphy, who has been trying to find funds to upgrade
the cycling facility for years, said the funding will allow for a complete renovation of the Velodrome.
"It's a wonderful thing. I have been trying to get it done for 10 years and now bicyclists of all ages
will be at their peak to train there for the 2012 Olympics." New York City is one of two American
cities in the running to host the summer games that year.
Built in 1962, the Velodrome is located off Booth Memorial Avenue and 150th Street.
Over the years, the facility had fallen into disrepair. Three years ago the city was able
to repave the straightaway areas but didn't have enough money or the proper equipment
to do the banked turns. Despite the bumpy areas and rough spots, dedicated racers continue
to work out there in good weather. The cycling club holds meets there from May to August.
A plaque on a flagpole near the cycling track indicates that it was constructed 40 years ago
and was named for Siegfried Stern, a parks benefactor and well-known Flushing businessman.
In 1964, the U.S. Olympics trials for speed cycling were held there.
Although membership has decreased over the last few years from a high of 300,
Campo said there are about a 100 steady members now. He expects membership to increase
greatly once the new track is completed. "Next year, I expect to double the ridership there
from 175 this year to well over 300," he said. Riding there since 1984, Campo commutes on public
transportation with his bike to Kissena Park from his home in Manhattan, a trip that takes over an hour.
"The Velodrome was really bad when I first started there but the club has always had a good program,
the best in the country. Cycling is the joy in my life." Campo, a contractor, believes the Velodrome
will definitely be used for Olympic training and for the World Cup, leading up to the Olympics.
The nearest velodrome to Kissena is in Pennsylvania, a 1-1/2-hour drive, so local members believe
there is great potential here when work is completed on the track. "This is terrific; something that's
been needed for a long time," Commissioner Murphy said. "We even got the Department of Transportation
to pave the adjacent parking lot in a mitigation." Campo can't wait until the next cycling season
and is pushing to get landscaping and other amenities completed by that time.
©Queens Chronicle - Northern/NorthEastern Edition 2002
|
Kissena Velodrome Archive
Opening Season, 1963. A view from turn one as Junior riders swarm the track.
More photos at Kissena Archive
|
Kissena Velodrome in Bicycling Magazine
"Track of Dreams" by Jill Hamburg Coplan in October 2002 issue.
On Kissena's website at Track of Dreams
|
|
Velodrome Renovation Elsewhere
Bike Cult Resource: Velodromes of the World, Past & Present
For your viewing pleasure, awaiting finishing touches at Kissena,
here are pictures of other velodrome renovation projects.
At Mexico City's Olympic Velodrome, for the womens hour record of
Leontien Zijlaard-Van-Moorsel on October 1st 2003,
one of her sponsors provided a special surface for the pole position.
-------------------------------
In Frisco, Texas, an all-volunteer crew layed new boards round the 250-meter
Superdrome track.
-------------------------------
In Northbrook, Illinois, Marty Nothstein came to a benefit race to save the
Ed Rudolf Northbrook Velodrome.
-------------------------------
In Dominguez Hills, California, the first permanent wooden indoor track of UCI standard in the USA is under construction.
|
|
