City of Topeka agrees to help fund downtown ice rink project

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

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

According to the proposal, the initial installation total acquisition cost in 2024 for the ice rink is $585,973. In 2025, the final installation cost for 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 financial review that the total expense of the ice rink in 2022-2023 was $366,252 with a $174,172 profit loss.

In 2015, the city agreed to allocate up to $300,000 from the city’s transient guest tax to the Evel Knievel Museum over 12 years. The $178,000 remainder of the $300,000 deal will now be used as a funding source for the ice skating rink.

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