I felt sorry Saturday for the city staffer who had to tell a steady stream of eager skaters they couldn’t use the Rink of Dreams because it appeared it was melting away.

I happened to be walking through City Hall around the time the rink closed. I snapped this picture at 3:15 p.m.

The staffer was great. She was honest with people about the rink having some kind of major problem. It was all turning to slush and it in some places you could see right through the ice. I heard later that the refrigeration unit conked out, though I’m sure the wacky weather over the past two days hasn’t helped, either. At the same time, the rink is said to stay frozen in temperatures up to 10 degrees Celsius.

Staff members were telling people the city would update them about the rink’s condition through public service announcements, but it’s about midnight Sunday and I haven’t seen one sent out. So, I can’t say if the rink will be ready for the special event planned for it Sunday morning.

It’s too bad for the city, which bailed out the National Capital Commission Friday when the canal was closed and there was NHL all-star fun to be had.

There was significant pressure on the city to have the rink open in time for the all-star weekend. The publicity generated for the city has been massive, with TV stations broadcasting live from the Rink of Dreams multiple times. For the rink to have refrigeration problems so soon, I have to wonder if the rink was, perhaps, rushed.

Hopefully the rink doesn’t run into refrigeration problems during Winterlude.