Exciting changes are on the horizon for the St. Louis skating community as two of our area’s most beloved rinks, Kirkwood Ice Rink and Steinberg Rink, prepare for major transformations. While both projects aim to modernize facilities and improve the skater experience, each brings unique updates to our local ice landscape.
The Glade: A New Vision for Steinberg Rink
In Forest Park, a $100 million fundraising campaign titled “Imagine the Glade” is set to restore the nearly 70-year-old Steinberg Rink and transform its 22.5-acre surroundings into an all-season destination. Construction was scheduled to begin in March 2025 and will take approximately 20 months, with a grand reopening planned for Fall 2026.
Because of this extensive work, Steinberg has been closed for the 2025-2026 ice skating season. When it returns, skaters can look forward to:
• Modernized Facilities: A reconstructed 27,500-square-foot ice rink—more than 1.5 times the size of an NHL rink—supported by new, efficient refrigeration systems.
• All-Season Amenities: The site will feature a “community living room” indoor gathering space, a rooftop terrace, and a restaurant with both indoor and outdoor dining.
• Summer Fun: Outside of the skating season, the rink will have the flexibility to host roller skating, while the surrounding “Glade” will offer a splash pad, interactive water features, and a community lawn for events.
• Sustainability: The project includes a geothermal wellfield for heating and the planting of over 150 new trees to enhance the park’s landscape.
Vital Upgrades at Kirkwood Ice Rink
In Kirkwood, the municipal ice rink—a year-round facility that generates significant revenue for local recreation—is also undergoing a critical replacement project. The rink replacement is part of a larger $11 million renovation of the Kirkwood Community Center.
The ice rink project, estimated to cost approximately $5.5 million, is driven by the need to replace an aging cooling system that uses R-22 freon, a coolant currently being phased out of use. Key improvements for Kirkwood skaters include:
• Infrastructure Replacement: The project involves replacing five miles of cooling pipes under the rink, the skating surface itself, and the dasher boards.
• Lobby and Comfort: Skaters will enjoy ice rink lobby improvements, including new rubber flooring and a fireplace.
• Timeline: While broader community center renovations are already underway, the specific ice rink replacement construction is slated to take place in mid-2026.
The Kirkwood Community Center remains a vital hub for the region, serving roughly 350,000 people annually across its various recreational offerings.
As these two rinks prepare for their next chapters, the St. Louis figure skating community can look forward to a future of improved ice quality, modernized amenities, and beautiful new spaces to gather and train. Keep an eye on our website for further updates on construction progress and reopening dates!