Don't Miss: 'Decked Out' Fundraiser For Greenport Skate Park Saturday

GREENPORT, NY — Dedicated efforts to breathe new life the Greenport Skate Park continue Saturday with an event celebrating decks, artists — and community.

The second annual "Decked Out" fundraiser to benefit the Greenport Skate Park takes place Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the George D. Costello Sr. Memorial Skating Rink, located at 102 3rd St. in Greenport.

This year, designers Jesse Elliott and Rena Wilhelm will once again present a fashion runway show featuring urban street-wear curated from local retailers. The show also infuses an athletic expo that features the park's skateboarders, roller and inline skaters, scooter riders and BMXers. Tickets cost $10 or $15 at the door. The event will feature a DJ, local models, several athletes, and food from local restaurants.

In addition, there are more than 70 artists participating in an innovative skate deck auction that will be hung at the rink for silent auction.

All proceeds benefit the Greenport Skate Park Revitalization Project.

To place bids on decks, register an account with Betterworld.org.

The more than 70 decks have been painted by Long Island, New York City and New Jersey and artists.

"This event is the epitome of community — and it's just so much fun!" Wilhelm said. "So please come on out, support the participants, the artists and our charity!"

Wilhelm has known one young artist, Sofia, since she was eight years old. "Her family have been customers since shortly after I moved to Greenport 12 years ago," she said. Of the photo above, she said: "This is one of my favorite boards and it's even more special because of my ties to this young artist. This is what it's all about! Bringing people together and celebrating community."

The Decked Out event, Wilhelm said, is "truly a community driven fundraiser that not only raises money towards the revitalization of our skate park, but raises awareness that kids need a safe place to go whether it be to skate or just hang out with their friends."

The park is situated on a large parcel of land that includes a wild open field as well as a baseball diamond, she said.

"We would like to create the park as a destination that will allow kids to socialize, make new friends and hone their athletic skills," Wilhelm said. "Part of our mission is to also foster creative outlets for our community, which is why this event also features the local art of so many Long Island artists as well as some well known ones from New York City."

This year's new campaign is called "Get On Board," with a main objective of revitalizing the park to attract more users near and far as well as build the community and showcase Greenport as a destination for more than just bars and restaurants, Wilhelm said.

"When people ask me how or why I got involved with rehabilitating the skate park I let them know it was because a young local boy, dismayed at the park's condition, asked for help," she said. "I'm a 'get it done' type of person. If there is one thing I know, these kids need things to do in Greenport. We have an amazing resource with this park and an opportunity to get kids outside and active. Give them a chance to meet new friends or just celebrate the ones they have. It's a place kids can come to watch with their friends, a place kids can come to kick around a ball, toss a frisbee or play whiffle ball."

She added: "If there is one thing I learned from our lockdowns a few years back, it is how it affected our youth. Kids need freedom to expend energy and be social. So that's why I do what I do, in addition to putting Greenport on the map for something other than tourism. It's all about community for me."

To buy tickets, click here. To view all the decks in the auction, click here.