Force Behind Greenport Skate Park Project Questions Why Village Board 'Has Not Prioritized' Path Forward

GREENPORT, NY — A woman who has championed tirelessly for years to see the Greenport Skate Park reborn delivered a fervent message to the village board recently, urging them to keep the project moving forward.

Wilhelm, the president of Greenport Skate Park Inc., a 501(c)(3) formed to revitalize the Greenport Skate Park and "rebuild the trust of the community that uses it," said she came before the village board "because, after years of commitment, volunteerism, fundraising, and community building, I am still struggling to understand why this project has not been given a clear path forward."

She said she had prepared a statement "so I don't go off the rails — although I'd like to."

The Greenport Skate Park was built 27 years ago, she said. "Just 10 years after it opened, it was already falling apart. For over a decade, many residents tried — unsuccessfully — to get various administrations to take responsibility for its condition."

Six years ago, Wilhelm said she stepped in and committed herself to reversing that trajectory.

"With almost no administrative support and only a handful of volunteers, we repaired the most dangerous issues — by hand, with our own money — because we refused to stand by and watch children become disenfranchised in a park the village owns," she said.

In past interviews, Wilhelm has told Patch that in 2019, a local boy, Dane Jensen, asked his mom to reach out to the community after seeing recent graffiti that really upset him.

"After seeing this plea, I said, 'Let's figure this out and let's do this,'" Wilhelm said.

From the start, Wilhelm has had dedicated volunteers passionate about seeing the project come to fruition; fundraisers were organized, bringing out crowds. In 2022, the group became an official non-profit organization and in the time since, major fundraising milestones were achieved.

"Despite the uphill battle, I promised the local kids — and their families — that I would not give up on them. And because of that promise, I kept pushing," Wilhelm said from the podium.

"Then, last April, we received the most promising break this park has seen in decades: a member of the Long Island skateboarding community, who owns a masonry company with his father, offered to rebuild a major portion of the park for a fraction of the projected cost," she said. "This was transformative. It brought renewed hope, press attention, and momentum. In July, that builder and I presented our Phase 1 renovation plans to this administration. At that meeting, Trustee Patrick Brennan recommended that the village’s legal counsel establish a process to help us move forward with any improvements. I presented the importance of this park at the Southold Greenport joint meeting. I remained available. And I waited for feedback that never came."

Wilhelm said in the meantime, the community continued to step up; $125,000 has been raised, almost entirely from local residents and business owners — many of them donating multiple times because they believe in the project and are trusting her to deliver "what the village has not prioritized," she said. "What I am asking for now is simple: A clear, direct path from this administration that allows Phase 1 of the renovation to proceed. And I am genuinely struggling to understand why that has not happened."

Greenport Village, Wilhelm said, has a park that has been neglected for years. A community-led nonprofit has raised the funds to repair and rebuild it, she said.

"A professional contractor is ready to donate labor and materials at a level that is almost unheard of. All we need is the village’s cooperation," she added. "This should be the easiest 'yes' this board could affirm. This is a win waiting to happen."

Wilhelm added: "Instead, our progress is stalled. And the message it sends — to residents, to donors, to the kids who use this park — is that the administration does not prioritize this project, no matter how much support it receives."

Wilhelm also expressed deep frustration: "This administration is going to once again question where a colleague of mine intends to donate the money raised from a what will surely be another successful Dog Dock Diving community event for Greenport. We worked tirelessly, brought the community together, and raised $10,000 specifically for the Greenport Skate Park Revitalization Project. That money, along with the rest of what we have raised, is sitting untouched — not because of us, but because this administration has not prioritized the park or given us a path forward. We cannot continue to build momentum, raise funds, or honor the community’s generosity if we are constantly stalled at the administrative level."

She concluded: "Our community has done everything to ensure the success of this project. We have raised the money. We have secured a contractor. We have built trust among the families and kids who rely on this space. And we are ready to hand the village a revived, safer, modernized park — on a silver platter. All we need is your partnership."

Speaking with Patch after the meeting, Greenport Village Mayor Kevin Stuessi said: "The village is committed to a significant renovation of the skate park and is applying for a large grant that was recently announced in order to raise needed funds. Rena and committee have done a wonderful job raising just over $100,000 and reenergizing our community around this great village asset."

The grant in question is one offered by the New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Department, a municipal parks and recreation grant.

"Now that I have brought my frustrations to the entire board, on the record, we will hopefully see some movement. The administration will work with their grant writers to get the application in before the February deadline," Wilhelm said.

Wilhelm said she felt that she was the one who was researching the options. "And I wasn't getting any feedback from the village board — quite frankly, because I don't think they were discussing this project as a whole."

While the involvement of, and ideas from the board, might have allowed the project to commence far sooner, Wilhelm said she felt there was a lack of action.

"Instead," she said, "I waited and waited. Where were the actual 'boots on the ground?' The think tank to make it happen?"

Wilhelm also said that fact that she asked that had asked for the opportunity to speak on the official agenda, and was not approved, made it appear as though the issue weren't a priority. "The first thing I said, before my statement to the board, was that not being approved speaks volumes," Wilhelm said.

Wilhelm noted that Trustee Mary Bess Phillips also brought up the grant, which "to be fair, was emailed to me by the mayor earlier in the month." She also said that new Southold Town Councilwoman Alexa Seuss also contacted her to speak about the grant.

"That's all I wanted, when I chose to speak out," she said. "It's all well and good to be patted on the back, but that's not why I do this. I am here for results. Otherwise, what's the point?"

In recent days, Wilhelm said Stuessi has sent out an email regarding what tasks certain board members would be responsible for, in regard to trying to move the project forward,.

"I am happy that they are finally working on solutions as a team. I am trying to keep a positive and wishful attitude that we receive the grant. I don't like putting all my eggs in one basket but the village pays for grant writers, so let's hope the village sees a return on that investment."

She added: "Please hold us in your hearts as we work to rebuild this park for future generations to enjoy."