TROY – The city will spend $100,000 to repair the Knickerbacker Ice Rink which closed in January after its ice making machinery failed.

City officials have been investigating how to repair the coolant system used to make the rink's ice. Davis Mechanicals of Syracuse, the firm that built the rink in 1990, is examining the system to figure out what must be fixed.

The city plans to draw the $100,000 from its capital reserve to repair the rink's compressors and the gas lines that cool the facility. The fund had $3.7 million on hand at the end of 2016.

“In discussions with the Commissioner of General Services the amount being transferred for the repairs, $100,000, is sufficient to complete the necessary repairs,” Mayor Patrick Madden's administration said in a report to the City Council.

A reopening date for the Lansingburgh facility is not yet set. The ice rink closed on Jan. 29.

This is the third major city recreation facility to be closed in two years due to maintenance issues. In 2017, the city didn't open pools in Knickerbacker Park and South Troy. Madden's administration said the pools were dangerous to operate because of disrepair and faulty equipment.

Last month, City Council President Carmella Mantello complained the council was not told of the rink's closure, saying she learned of it from a hockey referee.

"The ice rink generates $275k-300k annually, and our city assets need better proactive overall maintenance. Hopefully the new General Services commissioner can address a much needed city assets maintenance plan. There is no doubt the ice rink must be fixed for the estimated $100,000 repairs," Mantello said.

Before the city can reopen the rink, the coolant system has to function for at least 24 hours.

The hockey teams and others programs that rented ice time at the rink moved to other facilities, city officials said when confronted about the closure of the rink.

The failure to keep the ice rink open comes at a time when the recently released Realize Troy Draft Comprehensive Plan, a blueprint for the city's future, calls for strengthening the city's park system.