Council to consider budget request for Kinsmen Community Arenas repair ahead of Fall
On August 6, Red Deer city council will consider a budget request for $350,000 to replace the chiller in the Kinsmen Community Arenas.
The chiller is the main piece of equipment that allows ice to be made at the twin arenas. It cools brine water and provides cooling. Officials say the brine water’s chemical properties keep it from freezing. To freeze the rink surface, the system pumps chilled brine water through the pipes and then into the ice-bearing concrete slab.
While officials say replacement is required for long term use, administration is also looking into other interim options, including the option of renting one to allow for the ice surfaces to be available before a new chiller can be installed.
“We are cautiously optimistic that we will be able to find a rental chiller for the 2024–2025 season; however, we are also preparing for the worst-case scenario,” said Curtis Martinek, facilities and asset management superintendent. “If we are unable to find a rental chiller and council approves the budget request, we are looking at a delay in opening the Kinsmen Community Arenas anywhere from mid-November to mid-December.”