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Webster Groves pauses on opening timeline after ice‑arena piping issue; engineers and contractor evaluating repairs
Summary
City staff reported a freezing irregularity at the new ice arena: a 200‑foot unfrozen strip linked to a probable leak or trapped air in glycol piping. The $3 million project team is testing compressors and will attempt to complete freezing; if unsuccessful, staff said more invasive repairs (chipping and pipe work) could be required, delaying opening.
Staff provided a technical update on the city’s new ice arena, reporting that early fill showed a 200‑foot unfrozen strip down the center of the rink. Staff and project engineers identified either a leak or trapped air in the glycol piping as the likely cause and described a staged remediation plan.
"I got a picture text to me last Thursday ... with the first layer of water down that was frozen with a complete unfrozen strip 200 feet all the way down the middle," staff said. They described testing steps already taken: cycling compressors to full operation, warming and re‑cooling the slab, and refilling to reattempt freezing. Staff emphasized the project’s scale (repeatedly described as a roughly $3,000,000 project) and said engineers called the failure mode unusual.
If the re‑freeze attempts fail, staff said the next step would be to identify and repair the blockage or leak, which could require chipping out portions of the slab and an extended closure in winter — a course staff wished to avoid. Staff said they will convene the project team Friday to determine the next action if ice does not form as expected.
Commissioners raised concerns about the timing and impact on local hockey and figure‑skating groups if a prolonged closure becomes necessary; staff said avoiding a mid‑season shutdown is a priority and that the contractor and engineers are working to diagnose the issue accurately.
