~Community-focused real estate group is taking away from the community~

 

MetroNational has announced plans to permanently close the Memorial City ice rink on July 31, 2026. This decision was made without public consultation and leaves our community with no centrally located, regulation-sized rinks for youth hockey, figure skating, or recreational skating in the nation’s fourth-largest city.  

 

Building on over 1,000 prior community signatures 

In 2023, a community petition to protect the Memorial City Mall ice rink gathered over 1,000 signatures from people who recognized how important this space is to Houston families, athletes, and local businesses. Previous community petition (2023): Petition · Save Our Ice Rink at Memorial City Mall! - United States · Change.org

Now, with the rink officially scheduled to close, the situation has become urgent.

This petition continues that effort—because the need has not gone away. It has only become more immediate.

 

Why this matters

The Memorial City ice rink is one of the few year-round ice facilities in Houston. It supports:

• Youth hockey teams and leagues
• Figure skating training and lessons
• Learn-to-skate programs for children
• Families looking for safe, active recreation

Closing it will reduce access to ice sports across the region and remove a unique community anchor from Memorial City.

 

The remaining Houston area rinks are not able to safely accommodate the displaced athletes, and there are not enough hours in the day to add ice time, meaning that many children and adults will lose access to their sport. The community will also be deprived of the joy recreational ice skating brings, especially in hot and humid Houston, and less Houstonians will learn how to skate and/or play hockey due to the lack of ice accessibility.

 

What has changed

This is no longer a possibility—it is a planned closure tied to redevelopment. MetroNational is putting in a road/parking lot instead of keeping the ice rink open.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That means the community must speak now if there is any chance to influence the outcome.

 

What we are asking MetroNational to do

• Reconsider the permanent closure of the ice rink
  OR
• Commit to including a replacement or relocated rink within the redevelopment plan

We support growth and improvements—but not at the cost of losing something that serves thousands of Houstonians every year.

 

Why this makes sense

Recreation spaces like ice rinks:

• Drive consistent foot traffic
• Increase time spent at retail centers
• Attract families and repeat visitors

 

A modern Memorial City can—and should—include both redevelopment and recreation.

 

Add your voice

If you signed the 2023 petition, we ask you to sign again to show continued support under current conditions.

 

If you’re new to this effort, your voice matters now more than ever.

 

Please do not donate to this petition. Any donations received will only go to change.org and not our organization. A portal for donations is currently in progress, and a link will be added to the petition when available.

 

Follow us on our Instagram: @savememorialcityicerink

 

Follow us on TikTok: @save.memorial.cit

 

Website: www.savememorialrink.org

 

Facebook Page: Save Memorial Ice Rink

 

Email: savememorialicerink@gmail.com

 

Sign today. Share widely. Help us protect this community space.