There’s Ice at Grippen Park Rink in Endicott But No Skating – Yet

For the first time in decades, there's a nice smooth ice surface inside the big rink building at Endicott's Grippen Park.

Some people who have spotted the ice have wondered if there'll be skating at the park this winter. That's not going to happen but Broome County is preparing for the return of ice skating at the site for next winter.

The park is undergoing a $4.3 million improvement project. One of the most expensive parts of the job has been putting a new roof on the rink structure.

The rink was last used for skating in 2005. That was before spring flooding damaged the ice-making equipment, resulting in the spill of the chemical ethylene glycol. The county spent about $1.5 million to clean up the site.

BMX races were held in the building for about a decade before plans were developed for the park makeover project.

The county chose not to install new equipment to make ice at the rink. Instead, the floor of the rink building that opened in 1972 has been replaced.

A small self-contained rink will be used for future skating. The park project contractor recently installed the rink inside the building for county parks department officials to inspect.

The rink will be taken down and stored until next winter when it will return for skating when the weather is cold enough for adequate ice.

Construction work on the Grippen Park project is expected to resume in a few weeks.

According to county executive Jason Garnar's office, the "rest of the facility is on track to be completed and opened in the spring."

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: A visit to Grippen Park on February 25, 2025.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.