It appears that D.C.’s only full-size public indoor ice rink will be getting a much-needed facelift after all.

On Tuesday, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena, the non-profit that runs the ice rink in Ward 7, signed an agreement to settle what had become a contentious fight over $21 million in city money set aside for the renovation and expansion of the facility.

In late January, Bowser asked the D.C. Council to let her take that money and put it towards $54 million worth of emergency HVAC and roof repairs at dozens of schools across the city. That prompted worries among users and supporters of the 43-year-old ice arena that they would never get those funds back.

But under the terms of the signed agreement, both sides get their way: Bowser gets the $21 million now, and the Friends of the Fort Dupont Ice Arena have a promise that she’ll replace the money in a future budget.

“The new two-rink arena has been a dream for the Fort Dupont Ice Arena kids and their families for years,” said Willem Polak, chairman of the Fort Dupont Board of Directors, in a statement. “This agreement with the District of Columbia now puts the new rink on a clear, even if steep, path for becoming a reality.”

The steep reality Polak refers to is a requirement that the Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena raise $5 million towards the $30 million budget for renovation and expansion. The first $3 million of that will have to be raised by Feb. 1, 2020. If they hit that goal, the city will sign the contract to start the project as the remaining $2 million in private contributions is collected.

The ice arena offers space for ice hockey and figure skating and runs the Kids On Ice program, which gives free skating instruction and equipment to children aged 5 to 18. According to the Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena, approximately 60 percent of the arena’s users live east of the Anacostia River — and the arena faces more demand than it has space. It is also home to the country’s oldest African-American youth hockey league, and serves as “home ice” to eight teams in the city.

“Fort Dupont is important because we not only teach kids how to skate, we teach them life lessons they don’t necessarily get anywhere else,” Tenaj Gueory, 21, told WAMU earlier this month. “The facility has been in the same shape for 43 years. It just needs a facelift and an extra sheet of ice, so we can give back to our kids. We can definitely get more kids on ice, because right now we’re just fighting for ice time.”

After news broke that Bowser was looking to take the money meant for the arena renovation and expansion, prominent supporters including Washington Capital owner Ted Leonsis and the NHL stepped up to help the arena. Leonsis launched a $500,000 fundraising effort and kicked in $100,000 of his own money; as of Tuesday, the campaign has less than $70,000 left to raise to meet its goal. That money will go towards the $5 million the arena has to raise for the project.

“We will now focus our energy and support on the task of raising money and are aiming for $3 million by next February,” said Polak.