Nantucket Ice Rink Facing Temporary Closure Following Failed Inspection Of Refrigeration System

The Nantucket Ice Rink will be forced to temporarily shut its doors as early as next week following an inspection by the Nantucket Fire Department that uncovered several safety concerns pertaining to areas of the rink including its ammonia refrigeration system.

“For the safety and wellbeing of the community, the Nantucket Fire Department conducts regular inspections of public recreation facilities, including Nantucket Ice,” Nantucket fire chief Michael Cranson told the Current. “In late 2024, we observed several safety concerns associated with the rink’s ammonia refrigeration system, which could pose a significant risk and danger to public health and safety.”

Cranson said the concerns include issues with ammonia detection and alarms, ventilation, personal protective equipment, pressure relief valves, emergency shut offs and machinery room drainage.

“Failure to complete required corrective actions identified during the inspection will result in a temporary closure of Nantucket Ice on February 10, 2025, which will remain in effect until the facility is brought into compliance with safety regulations,” Cranson said. “We look forward to a swift and comprehensive resolution of the identified safety violations to avoid a shutdown of Nantucket Ice.”

The rink’s board of trustees provided the Current with a statement addressing the fire department’s findings. It is unclear at this time whether the rink will close on Feb. 10, but rink affiliates are planning to meet with the fire department before that date with the hope the rink will remain open through the winter sports season.

In its statement, the Nantucket Ice board acknowledged the issues with the facility’s refrigeration plant and emphasized its focus on modernizing the rink.

“Nantucket Ice first opened its doors in 2002 as a brand-new facility,” the trustees said. “In addition to siting and constructing the building and facilities, the project included the best ice-making refrigeration plant that fit within the project’s scope and budget at the time. As the refrigeration plant has aged, the rink staff has worked diligently to keep it operating efficiently while evaluating options to upgrade to the next generation of equipment.

“Unfortunately, a number of issues with the refrigeration plant have arisen, and we will have to temporarily close our doors this spring,” the trustees continued. “The rink’s board is actively collaborating with industry leaders who are engineering a new system with cutting- edge technology. This new plant will help us not only to achieve our short-term goal of reopening as soon as possible but also ensure that we operate at the highest levels of safety and energy efficiency."

The rink is a 501c3 that was founded in 1995 before being built and opened seven years later in July of 2002. The rink’s weekly schedule offers activities ranging from public skating, learn to skate classes for figure skating and hockey, open freestyle, puck & stick, men’s league, curling, and kids on ice. It is also the home for Nantucket High School’s boys and girls varsity hockey teams, the Nantucket Nor’easters Youth Hockey Teams, Nantucket Skating Club, Island Waves Synchronized Skating Team, and the Nantucket Curling Club.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.