The Berkley Ice Arena has canceled the rest of the 2016-17 winter season due to a coolant leak under the building. The arena has been operating continuously for 42 years.
According to the city, the ice surface began to soften on Sept. 29, and repeated efforts to repair it were unsuccessful.
Staff and contractors worked to find the source of the failure, and experts say the leak originates in a system under the concrete floors.
"The challenge is pinpointing the exact location of the leak; an expensive and time consuming endeavor," the city said in a release.
According to the city, there have been mechanical issues over the years at the arena due to the age of the equipment, and there are few options for bringing life into the aging facility.
"We are saddened by this situation," City Manager Matt Baumgarten said. "We must take this time and consider what can be done given the city's remaining capital needs and a plan for the future."
Berkley is looking for a public sector partner or partners to help redevelop the parks & rec complex. For more information, click here.
