A Track Built for Generations

Before it was known as the Ed Rudolph Velodrome, Northbrook's bicycle track was referred to as the “Northbrook Bowl”. The 382-meter track opened at Meadowhill Park in July 1960 as a place where families could ride safely away from increasing traffic in the Village. That same summer, the Village/Park District even moved its Bicycle Safety Week activities to the new track.

The velodrome quickly became a hub for cycling, with weekly races beginning when it opened. It also hosted the Amateur National Bike Racing Championships in 1963 and 1973. During the winter months, the field inside the track was flooded to create an Olympic speed skating training area, a practice that continued into the 1990s.

In the 1970s, the track was renamed for longtime Park District Commissioner Ed Rudolph, who played a key role in making the velodrome a reality.

More than six decades later, the Ed Rudolph Velodrome remains a unique part of Northbrook and continues to bring cyclists and spectators together each summer.