Cold Hard Cash Needed to Save Greenport Skating Rink

Since the 1950s, children in Greenport have enjoyed the skating rink at the Burton Potter Post #185 of the American Legion in Greenport. Unfortunately, unless the legion is able to make much-needed repairs, future generations of children will not get a chance to participate in an "all skate" on those much used hardwood floors.

For many years, the American Legion Hall was home to wedding receptions, graduation parties, Friday night skating, flea markets, and dances. Now the building is shuttered because it is in such disrepair. At the core of the problem is that there are not enough members to raise the finances to keep up with such a large building.

Robert Heaney, owner of Greenport restaurant skippers, approached the legionnaires with the idea for a fundraiser at his restaurant on Veteran's Day to save the skating rink. Proceeds from the dinners and raffles will go to help pay to repair the roof. The fundraiser will be held on Nov. 11 from 12 to 8 p.m. at Skipper's Restaurant in Greenport. Tickets are $17 in advance and $18 at the door.

According to Marilyn Corwin, Ladies Auxiliary Treasurer, part of the problem is that  membership numbers are very low. The current members are veterans of World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam. The legion has not gotten any new members from Desert Storm, or the current conflicts in Afghanistan or Iraq.

"Even saying there are 10 active members would be a lot," said Corwin

Over the last few years, the legion's ladies auxiliary started a family skating program on Sundays. They would make money by charging a small admission fee, skate rentals, and running a concession stand. Corwin said people would often make small donations and a few people even volunteered to help run the program.

In addition, for a nominal fee, the hall was rented out for skating parties; however, the fee charged for the skating parties barely took care of paying for the fuel.

"The biggest problem is when the roof really started leaking. For a while, there were small leaks by the concession stand that we could patch. But when the roof started leaking over the skating floor, the floor started to buckle and it became dangerous," said Corwin.

The legion hall is now closed until repairs can be made. Corwin said that any money the organization has made always went to pay for electricity, fuel, and water and there was no money left over for critical repairs.

A new roof will cost thousands of dollars, money which the Legion does not have, said Corwin. The bathrooms need to be updated and made handicap accessible. Some of the members actually considered putting the building up for sale but the ladies auxiliary fought to keep it. Corwin said she approach Greenport Mayor David Nyce and the board of trustees.

"If we can get it fixed up, we can lease it to the Village for the youth program," explained Corwin.

Corwin would like to see the building restored to its original glory so that it could be used as a community center where talent shows, community dinners, and skating events could all be held. But right now, none of that is possible.

"You know, once it's gone, it's gone. We're not going to get it back," said Corwin.