Greenport Skate Park Community Meeting Held Monday

NORTH FORK, NY — For those who'd like to have their voices included in the shaping of Greenport Skate Park's future, a community meeting will be held Monday.

The meeting takes place Monday at 6 p.m. in the VIP room of the GDC Roller Skate Rink, located at 102 3rd Street in Greenport.

Those attending are asked to bring their ideas, concerns and wishes for the skate park.

Tito Porrata, designer for Montauk Skate Park, will be a featured guest at the event, said Rena Wilhelm, owner of The Weathered Barn, who is working tirelessly toward breathing new life into the facility.

"It is important that those that use the park, have used the park in the past, and those who would like to use the park in the future attend, or at least pass along your input to me via email," she said.

Email suggestions to greenportskatepark@gmail.com.

"Furthermore, we are looking for individuals to join our organization. Whether is be as a board member, committee member, or volunteer, we need help. It has been a huge undertaking with just a handful of individuals and I don't want to burn myself or my team out, " Wilhelm said.

Additionally, the GDC Roller Skate Rink will be holding a blood drive Monday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Speaking with Patch, Wilhelm said: "We are very lucky to have Tito Porrata leading our open community meeting as he shows us some possibilities for our renovation. Tito was part of Team Pain, whose company built the orignal skate park in 1998. Most recently, he designed the outstanding Montauk Skate Park. Offering us a springboard and developing construction documents and renderings will really help us with our fundraising goals," Wilhelm said.

She added: "To potential donors, it shows we are not just a random group without a plan. Community members will be able to attend and offer their hopes for the park, what they like and dislike."

There have been many requests for a pump track, Wilhelm said. " I am excited to see how one can be configured within the landscape. It's also important that we offer beginner and intermediate fixtures to help skaters grow and hone their skills. Right now, the mini ramp is the most used fixture within the park even by the hardcore skaters, so that says a lot. We need more of those types of those lower level, not death-defying, ramps."

Efforts to breathe new life into the Greenport Skate Park in recent months have included an Art Exhibition and Makers' Market featuring the large murals created in vivid color by graffiti artists — created at a festival this summer to benefit the facility — which were auctioned off.

In August, the skate park came alive with new energy and vision Saturday at the "Sound & Skate Festival" aimed at raising funds for ongoing work to repair the skate park and refurbish the facility, and also to redesign the space so that it can grow to meet new needs.

According to Wilhelm, the skate park was built in 1998. In 2008 a series of yearly festival fundraisers kicked off to raise money to fix up the park "because it needed a little TLC," she said.

Those early festivals featured skate competitions, music, a DJ, and food, and brought out the community for a day of fun.

But time and a pandemic has left the park "seriously in need of repair, posing several structural risks to skaters," Wilhelm said. "The park has been littered and vandalized" and needed an infusion of love and community care, she said.

"One of our local youths, Dane Jensen, asked his mom to reach out to the community in 2019, 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.

Wilhelm added: "Our mission has always been to not just promote the sport, but the fashion, music, and entrepreneurial avenues that surround skate culture. The skating culture is incredibly diverse and one of the most accepting groups I have ever seen. All people want to do is skate and have a good time," she said.

While she had no idea, at first, what efforts would entail, Wilhelm said she had experience curating vendors for the Maritime Festival and many relationships with local artists given the nature of her business.

"To revive the festival into a major event, was the best chance at bringing out community together and bringing attention to the fact that the park needs funds to not only restore it, but to redesign aspects of the parks to reflect the newer trends in skateboarding, quad skating, inline skating, scooters and BMX bikes," she said.

Greenport Village Mayor George Hubbard applauded the ongoing efforts. "I think they are doing great work and can't wait to see what new fixtures they have planned," he said. "It is a good thing for everyone that uses the park or just watches the kids having fun and learning more tricks. I wish them well and good luck with raising awareness of the park — and also, with raising funds for improvements."

The group organized and created the Greenport Skate Park Inc., a nonprofit organization. But, while efforts have been ongoing, more help is needed, Wilhelm said.

"There is just not nearly enough money in the budget to account for the park's state of disrepair. It might take us a while, but we push forward, bringing awareness and soliciting sponsorship and other fundraising options," she said.

Wilhelm was candid about discussing the challenges the group has faced so far in garnering support for fundraising efforts.

"It can be disheartening sometimes when people don't see the value in the skate park. Skate parks suffer from many generalizations," including a stereotype as a place for illicit behavior, she said.

"Nothing could be further from the truth," Wilhelm said. "Skate parks allow kids to be outside, to socialize, to find common ground with other youths. It allows kids to bond with their parents or other adults willing to teach and pass their skills along to novice skaters. The skate boarding community is one of the most supportive groups I have had the pleasure of working alongside."

Working to refurbish the skate park offers a chance to showcase Greenport for something other than the downtown business area, Wilhelm said. "It's what I call the 'other' park and it deserves as much attention as Mitchell Park because of what it offers our own community and others who come from all over just to use the park."

Personally, Wilhelm said she finds efforts to rebuild the skate park and cultivate a larger community for skate enthusiasts deeply rewarding.

Sreet art and the artisan community all play a part in the skate boarding community — a place where youth can learn to dream and create, she said.

She added: "It's all about celebrating the entire skate culture to bring awareness to the needs of the park and cultivating more exposure to the industry for young entrepreneurs."

To learn more about fundraising efforts to revitalize the park, click here.