Construction delays continue to push back the opening of Howell’s Fire and Ice District, but officials say they still hope to have most of the development finished by the end of April.
The district spans the block between Walnut Street and Michigan Avenue and centers on a 160-by-80-foot pavilion with offices and concessions, restrooms, a maintenance room, lockers and rentable space. It will also include a removable 120-by-60-foot ice rink for wintertime.
The rink will use glycol chilling so the ice can stay frozen when temperatures are 50 degrees or below. City residents will skate for free and get discounted skate rentals, while non-residents must pay an hourly fee.
Along Walnut, the streetscape will include public gathering spaces with three firepits, pergolas for shade and a playable fountain with LED lights, which officials stress is different than a splash pad.
As of March 25, Deputy Director of Public Services Mike Spitler said officials hope to have most of the project done by the end of April, with minor finishing touches in May and possibly June.
“The weather hasn’t made it easy,” Spitler said. “We’re just trying to push forward and get everything done as soon as possible, so that we can actually open it up for the community.”
Spitler said inconsistent weather has slowed concrete work, which he called a “determining factor” in opening. Parks and Programs Coordinator Shannon Coker said all construction must be finished before the district can open.
While construction continues, officials have locked in venue rental rates of $100 per hour, $400 for a half day, $750 for a full day and $600 for an evening event, plus a security deposit for certain rentals, according to meeting minutes.
“We’re hoping that, once it’s up and running for the summer, we can then rent it to (use for) community events, private rentals and things like that,” Coker said.
The project was initially scheduled to open in November 2025, but that timeline slipped away after a slower-than-expected summer construction season. By late 2025, officials said they were aiming for substantial completion by the end of March and full completion by the end of April.
During a recent walk-through, Spitler and Coker pointed out areas where concrete still needs to be poured and described where seating will go.
Spitler said the layout can be transformed and blocked off to function as a street for festivals and community events, or as a spot for food trucks by using nearby electrical outlets.
Residents can track construction progress online at tinyurl.com/4kxm6h8k.
— Contact reporter Makayla Coffee at mcoffee@livingstondaily.com.
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Howell’s Fire and Ice District may not open until May, June. Here’s why
Reporting by Makayla Coffee, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
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