Leak delays ice rink opening

The Ice Palace ice skating rink in Riverfront Park didn’t open Wednesday, as scheduled, because crews were repairing a leaky pipe under the ice. Spokane Parks and Recreation Department officials now estimate the Ice Palace will open Friday.

Crews discovered a pipe leaking glycol on Monday afternoon. Glycol is the chemical pumped through the pipes under the concrete to keep the concrete cold, said Debby Dodson, Riverfront Park’s assistant park manager.

“It’s opposite of antifreeze,” Dodson said.

Repairs involve removing some of the concrete to repair the pipe. Once the repair is made, crews will have to build up the ice.

The Ice Palace is scheduled to be open for its first day on Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.