Memorial City Mall ice rink to stay open until December after decision to close for good

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The Memorial City Mall ice rink will be open through the fall after it was originally announced the facility would close for good on July 31.

This week MetroNational announced the rink will be open until Dec. 14 in response to community interest and feedback.

ORIGINAL REPORT: Memorial City Mall ice rink closing in July with no plans to reopen

The mall originally announced in April that the rink would close due to upcoming construction that would make it impossible to maintain the conditions for the ice. Officials said any usable equipment would be donated to other ice rinks and community organizations to help support skating programs.

Since the announcement in April, community groups launched a petition to keep the ice rink open, and spoke at Houston City Council to request the city to reconsider closing or to build a new facility.

This week MetroNational president Scooter Hicks said in a statement, "The response from our community made it clear how much this rink means to Houston families. We're pleased to give families the opportunity to enjoy the rink for the fall season."