© 2025 WLRN
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Palm Beach Gardens greenlights ice rink, despite backlash

A rendering of an indoor ice rink.
Palm Beach North Athletic Foundation proposal
/
Stet Palm Beach
Rendering of one of the two indoor ice rinks proposed for Plant Drive Park in Palm Beach Gardens.

A contentious multi-million dollar ice hockey rink project in Palm Beach Gardens is causing residents to question the decision behind the project, as growing concerns over sour the hype.

The city of Palm Beach Gardens unanimously approved a new lease agreement with the Palm Beach North Athletic Foundation to build a $40 million, 123,000-square-foot ice skating rink.

However, this means demolishing the beloved Plant Drive Skatepark — the city's only skatepark. It sparked months of backlash which led to an online petition against the park’s demolition with nearly 4,000 signatures.

Concerns also include fears over bumper-to-bumper traffic in an already densely populated area — issues the Foundation tried to address during a private meeting on Monday night.

The project features two professional-sized ice rinks, a restaurant and other multi-use facilities.

The project site plan will go in front of the city board on Jan. 9.

The ice rink is set to open in 2026. Hockey great Wayne Gretzky plans to host Gretzky Hockey School at the location.

READ MORE: $500,000 grant boosts Black history museum project, revitalization in West Palm Beach community

This is a News In Brief report. Visit WLRN News for in-depth reporting from South Florida and Florida news.

Wilkine Brutus is the Palm Beach County Reporter for WLRN. The award-winning journalist produces stories on topics surrounding local news, culture, art, politics and current affairs. Contact Wilkine at wbrutus@wlrnnews.org
More On This Topic