After years of talk and months of construction dust, Howell is finally cutting the ribbon on its new Fire and Ice Depot District tomorrow at 4 p.m., unveiling a year-round pavilion with a seasonal ice rink and flame-lit hangout spots in the center of downtown. Wedged between Walnut Street and Michigan Avenue next to the Historic Depot, the new plaza packs a removable ice rink, programmable fountain and multiple firepits into a single block meant to anchor markets, concerts and private events. City leaders say the goal is to pull more foot traffic into historic Howell while giving locals a fresh place to gather in every season.
The public ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 4 p.m. tomorrow at 219 N. Walnut Street and will feature guided tours and refreshments, as reported by WHMI. Officials, including City Manager Kristi Troy, are slated to offer remarks before opening the pavilion for a short public walkthrough ahead of regular programming.
What’s inside the depot district
At the heart of the project is a 160-by-80-foot pavilion that houses a removable 120-by-60-foot ice rink. The rink is glycol-chilled and engineered to keep ice solid as long as temperatures stay at or below 50 degrees, according to City of Howell planning materials. Tucked into the pavilion are offices, concessions, restrooms, a maintenance room and rentable locker space, while the surrounding plaza features a programmable LED fountain, pergolas for shade and three fire features to warm up winter gatherings. Designers say boards and glass will control rink access so the pavilion can shift into an event stage once the ice comes out for the warmer months.
How to use the space
The Fire and Ice Depot is already taking summer rentals for events, parties and private gatherings, and city reporting indicates Howell residents will be able to skate for free while non-residents will pay an hourly fee for public sessions. The site includes power hookups for food trucks and can be closed off for ticketed events, and a dedicated photo area incorporates original Walnut Street bricks to keep the new plaza tied to Howell’s history, per Livingston Daily. Parks and programs coordinator Shannon Coker told reporters she is particularly excited that the space can operate year-round and will host a mix of community events and private rentals.
Delay and downtown lift
The project was originally expected to open in November 2025 but slid into summer 2026 as construction timelines and schedules shifted, according to the city’s sponsor materials. The redevelopment also comes with a companion parking plan and other streetscape upgrades, which are part of a roughly $10 million effort to revitalize the 200 block of North Walnut and the Depot Lot, according to general contractor C.E. Gleeson Constructors. City officials say the extra parking and new public space should make downtown easier to visit and better equipped for events throughout the year.
For event details and rental information, check Downtown Howell’s events calendar, which already has the new site on tap for seasonal gatherings. Organizers expect the plaza to host markets and concerts this summer and to return as a community skating hub once temperatures drop enough for ice later this year.
