Hitchcock Park / Motto McLean Ice Arena (42 & Q St)

Discussion of current events, news, the latest happenings in Omaha

Moderators: nebugeater, Omaha Cowboy, Brad, BRoss

User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 34366
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village

Hitchcock Park / Motto McLean Ice Arena (42 & Q St)

Post by Coyote »

'It's something you don't think could happen to your friend': Teen nearly drowns at Hitchcock pool

User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 34366
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village

Re: Hitchcock Park

Post by Coyote »

Near-drowning at Hitchcock pool; Omaha public pools have not opened for the summer

User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 34366
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village

Re: Hitchcock Park

Post by Coyote »

After two near-drownings, trespassing continues at Hitchcock Pool in Omaha

User avatar
Greg S
City Council
Posts: 8879
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2004 10:46 am

Re: Hitchcock Park

Post by Greg S »

That's my son interviewed in the first clip. Me in the one above. Here's the link for Pedro's GoFundMe. Very tough situation for him and his Dad:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/prayers-for-pedro


Greg
User avatar
nativeomahan
County Board
Posts: 5978
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2004 2:46 pm
Location: Omaha and Puerto Vallarta

Re: Hitchcock Park

Post by nativeomahan »

One of the news stories about this tragedy was on Chnnel 6. They interviewed a neighbor who related that kids climbing the fence and playing in the pool after dark had been going on for decades.
I’ve never been to Hitchcock Park, but in my checkered past my friends and I were known to climb the fence at the Elmwood Pool on hot summer nights.
Nothing could quite get the adrenaline flowing like being caught by the police spotlights while “playing around” at 2 am in the pool, separated from your clothing.
User avatar
Greg S
City Council
Posts: 8879
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2004 10:46 am

Re: Hitchcock Park

Post by Greg S »

nativeomahan wrote: Sat Jun 18, 2022 10:53 am One of the news stories about this tragedy was on Chnnel 6. They interviewed a neighbor who related that kids climbing the fence and playing in the pool after dark had been going on for decades.
I’ve never been to Hitchcock Park, but in my checkered past my friends and I were known to climb the fence at the Elmwood Pool on hot summer nights.
Nothing could quite get the adrenaline flowing like being caught by the police spotlights while “playing around” at 2 am in the pool, separated from your clothing.
Yeah you are spot on. Definitely been happening at pools all over city since at least the 70’s.
User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 34366
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village

Re: Hitchcock Park

Post by Coyote »


OPD responds to drowning in north Omaha


Omaha Police responded early Wednesday morning to a drowning call at a home in a north Omaha neighborhood. According to officers on the scene, a woman found her 47-year-old husband just before 4 a.m. at the bottom of the above-ground pool of their home on North 59th Street, south of Pinkney Street.
ChadJK
Planning Board
Posts: 2468
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2019 2:51 pm

Re: Hitchcock Park

Post by ChadJK »

Coyote wrote: Wed Jun 22, 2022 10:14 am ...at the bottom of the above-ground pool of their home...
How does a grown man drown in an above grown pool? Can't you just stand up? I suppose if the ladder was removed and you couldn't lift yourself or swing a leg over... still... you'd think he'd holler for help for hours before succumbing to that. Weird and tragic.
Last edited by ChadJK on Wed Jun 22, 2022 1:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Louie
County Board
Posts: 4880
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 4:23 pm
Location: Dundee

Re: Hitchcock Park

Post by Louie »

ChadJK wrote: Wed Jun 22, 2022 12:56 pm
Coyote wrote: Wed Jun 22, 2022 10:14 am ...at the bottom of the above-ground pool of their home...
How does a grown man drown in an above grown pool? Can't you just stand up? I suppose if the ladder was remove and you couldn't lift yourself or swing a leg over... still... you'd think he'd holler for help for hours before succumbing to that. Weird and tragic.
I'm sure there was another circumstance (drinking, health condition, etc) that caused him to possibly faint or pass out.
User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 34366
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village

Re: Hitchcock Park

Post by Coyote »


Man found drowned in Benson neighborhood backyard pool


An Omaha man was found drowned early Wednesday in a backyard pool in the Benson neighborhood. Police were called to a home near 59th Street and Bedford Avenue just before 4 a.m., according to a Douglas County 911 dispatcher. A man, who lives at the residence, was found dead in an above-ground pool. The man's identity was not immediately released.
User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 34366
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village

Re: Hitchcock Park

Post by Coyote »

Omaha Council approves affordable housing plan, gives funds to Hitchcock pool

Funds are discussed to improve a pool
User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 34366
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village

Re: Hitchcock Park

Post by Coyote »


Hitchcock Pool diving towers to be demolished
Omaha Parks and Recreation says the diving towers don't meet safety regulations for diving boards. They plan to install new diving boards that do as part of pool renovation efforts.




The Hitchcock Pool diving towers will be demolished in the coming months as the city of Omaha prepares to make renovations. The pool has sat in South Omaha for nearly 50 years. The diving towers were open the majority of that time. In the last 10 years, safety regulations with high dives changed and the city was forced to close the high dive.
User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 34366
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village

Re: Hitchcock Park

Post by Coyote »


Omaha city officials discuss renovation for Hitchcock ice rink




Omaha city officials are discussing repairs to one of the city's popular ice rinks.
User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 34366
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village

Re: Hitchcock Park

Post by Coyote »

Are there any rinks besides:

Grover Ice.
Motto McLean Ice Arena.
Moylan Iceplex.

I used to go to AkSarBen as a kid. 🏒
User avatar
Brad
Photographer
Posts: 1036415
Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:03 pm
Location: Omaha, NE

Re: Hitchcock Park / Motto McLean Ice Arena (42 & Q St)

Post by Brad »

Coyote wrote: Sat Oct 14, 2023 1:44 pm Are there any rinks besides:

Grover Ice.
Motto McLean Ice Arena.
Moylan Iceplex.

I used to go to AkSarBen as a kid. 🏒
Baxter Arena = 2 NHL Sheets
Ralston Arena = 2 NHL Sheets
Moylan = 1 Olympic Sheet, 1 NHL Sheet
Motto = 1 NHL Sheet
Grover = 1 slightly smaller sheet.
Fremont YMCA = 1 NHL Sheet
CHI Health Center = 1 NHL Sheet (Not currently used)
Mid America Center = 1 NHL Sheet (Not currently used)
User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 34366
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village

Re: Hitchcock Park / Motto McLean Ice Arena (42 & Q St)

Post by Coyote »

Brad wrote: Sat Oct 14, 2023 7:06 pm
Coyote wrote: Sat Oct 14, 2023 1:44 pm Are there any rinks besides:

Grover Ice.
Motto McLean Ice Arena.
Moylan Iceplex.

I used to go to AkSarBen as a kid. 🏒
Baxter Arena = 2 NHL Sheets
Ralston Arena = 2 NHL Sheets
Moylan = 1 Olympic Sheet, 1 NHL Sheet
Motto = 1 NHL Sheet
Grover = 1 slightly smaller sheet.
Fremont YMCA = 1 NHL Sheet
CHI Health Center = 1 NHL Sheet (Not currently used)
Mid America Center = 1 NHL Sheet (Not currently used)
Thank, that is a complete ice rink menu! :music:
User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 34366
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village

Re: Hitchcock Park / Motto McLean Ice Arena (42 & Q St)

Post by Coyote »


Exploring the history behind Omaha's city ice rinks




Omaha’s city ice rinks have historical significance. Motto McLean played right wing for the old Omaha Knights from 1947-1951. McLean was known around town as “Mr. Hockey.” “He specifically carried here in Omaha the connection to Gordy Howe and some of the deeper lines of history with hockey,” said Matthew Kalcevich, Omaha’s Director of Parks, Recreation, and Public Property. “It’s just such a great, fun, cool connection for us to have hockey here in Omaha. A facility like that serves the broad range of people that we do.” The Motto McLean Ice Arena was named in his honor. His picture hangs in the lobby.
User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 34366
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village

Re: Hitchcock Park / Motto McLean Ice Arena (42 & Q St)

Post by Coyote »


Changes coming to South Omaha's Hitchcock Pool




Changes are coming for a South Omaha staple.
User avatar
Brad
Photographer
Posts: 1036415
Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:03 pm
Location: Omaha, NE

Re: Hitchcock Park / Motto McLean Ice Arena (42 & Q St)

Post by Brad »

Motto is closing after today's activities and they are going to re-do the ice. Should be back open Saturday morning. When we were there this evening, they had already shaved off a noticeable amount and had a pile of "snow" out in the parking lot. It was to the point where you could barely see the lines or the circles anymore.