TROY – The city’s Knickerbacker Ice Rink has been closed since late January and there’s no date set for reopening the popular Lansingburgh recreational facility, city officials said Thursday.

“Significant progress has been made,” John Salka, a spokesman for Mayor Patrick Madden, said about repairing the coolant system that’s used to create the ice for the rink. But no reopening date has been fixed.

The last time the rink is listed as being open is the week of Jan. 22, according to the city’s recreation website. For the Jan. 29 schedule it’s listed as “Rink closed for maintenance.” A February schedule was never posted for the rink.

“With kids off of school the city annually offers free afternoon skating at the Knick. The management and those in charge of these city resources have failed Troy’s children again,” said Councilman Mark McGrath, whose district includes the rink.

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 its Knickerbacker Park and South Troy pools saying that it would be dangerous to operate them as a result of disrepair and equipment failure.

“We need to do a better job of maintenance in our parks,” said Councilman David Bissember, who chairs the City Council’s General Services Committee, which oversees the city’s park and recreation programs.

Bissember said the council’s Democratic majority is concerned about the city’s failure to maintain its facilities. He said having the city park system operating properly is a major issue.

Davis Mechanicals of Syracuse has been at the rink evaluating the problems with the coolant system, Salka. The firm built the 1990 ice rink, he said.

Before the city can reopen the rink, the coolant system has to function for at least 24 hours. Bissember said the system has only operated for as long as 18 hours.

Salka said the hockey teams and programs that rent ice time at the rink have moved to other locations. He said the city is looking at updating the website to inform people of what is occurring at the rink.

The city has not yet received an estimate for repairing the ice rink, Salka said.

The failure to keep the ice rink open comes at a time when the Realize Troy Draft Comprehensive Plan calls for strengthening the city’s park system.

The council’s three Republicans – McGrath, Council President Carmella Mantello and Councilman Jim Gulli – said they have been waiting to hear from the Madden administration about the rink’s condition. They said they have not been told anything about the progress of repairs.