An ice rink in Downtown Topeka is a-go

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Topeka city leaders have approved the reallocation of tax funding for an ice rink at Evergy Plaza.

The Topeka City Council approved to reallocate transient guest tax funding from the Evel Knievel Museum to the Downtown Topeka Foundation Ice Rink Tuesday evening. According to the proposal, the Downtown Topeka Foundation predicts $178,000 of the transient guest tax is just one potential funding source for this project.

According to the proposal, initial installation total acquisition cost in 2024 for the ice rink is $585,973. In 2025, the total acquisition cost for final installation of the ice rink is $173,016.

District 9 councilwoman Michelle Hoferer said in the city council meeting that the city is in charge of reallocating the money, but it is the Downtown Topeka Foundation's job to run the ice rink and gain sponsorships.

The Downtown Topeka Foundation stated in the proposal the 2022-2023 financial review, where the total expense of the ice rink was $366,252 and a net profit (loss) of $174,172.

In 2015, the city agreed to allocate up to $300,000 from the city’s transient guest tax to the Evel Knievel Museum over a 12-year period.

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