In order to maintain the ice arena's aging facility and replace the outdated refrigerant, the facility will require a significant investment in the near future. The ice arena currently uses a refrigerant (R-22) that is no longer produced, environmentally unfriendly and expensive to replace. The City recently commissioned a study to evaluate options for replacing the system, which has been in place since the 2003 renovation and expansion of the ice arena. The study recommended replacement of the existing system with a new ammonia-based refrigeration system. Ammonia is a widely used refrigeration system for ice arenas.

City staff will make a bid recommendation for this project to the City Council at the regular meeting on June 26. Construction is tentatively scheduled for summer and fall 2024. At that time, the ice rink will be closed for up to four weeks as the temporary ice plant system is installed. The temporary system will allow the ice rink to remain operational during the switchover project.

The City was recently awarded $525,000 in grant funding from the Municipal Park Grant Commission to switch over the ice arena's aging refrigeration system to a new system. The City has also dedicated $1.9 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the project. The total project cost is estimated as $2.4 million.