The George D. Costello Sr. Memorial Skate Rink in Greenport is offering free lessons and skate rentals for all ages, from toddlers to adults. Free lessons are available during All Skate sessions, which will be held Saturday, Feb. 15; Sunday, Feb. 16; and Monday, Feb. 17, from noon to 3 p.m.
The rink, operated by Burton Potter Club Inc., provides lessons in a designated area for toddlers and along the rail of the rink for older kids and adults.
“It’s a family-friendly atmosphere to teach toddlers how to skate. We start at toddler size 7—the shoe size, so that’s pretty little—and we have a special area in the middle of the rink where we offer toddlers free lessons,” said Mindy Ryan, general manager of Burton Potter Club Inc.
Ryan said free lessons are also available for adults and older kids, who are taught along the rail of the rink.
“The whole thing is a learning experience for the entire family,” she said. The goal is to “get everybody rolling.”
Ryan emphasized that All Skate sessions are for all ages.
“You could bring Grandma, who is 77, and a great-grandkid who is 4, and everyone can skate.”
Established in 1939, the GDC Roller Skate Rink is an attraction at the Robert E. and Lillian A. White Greenport Community Center, run in conjunction with the American Legion, which purchased the building and provides emergency funds.
Ryan noted that people come from as far as Patchogue and Huntington to experience the rink, which offers an affordable skating experience at $10 for skaters and $5 for spectators. Concession prices are also budget-friendly, with hot dogs, soft pretzels, fresh popcorn, and cotton candy available for $4 or less.
While other rinks on Long Island may offer faster-paced skating with loud music, Ryan said the GDC Roller Skate Rink has “a totally different atmosphere.”
COVID-19 was a game-changer for roller skating, according to Ryan. She said the teens who once frequented the rink became more focused on social media, but new interest grew among families.
As a result, the inventory of new skates was quickly depleted by those looking to skate through their neighborhoods.
“It was kind of a nice reset,” she said, “and now we’re working with young families.”
Ryan noted that Greenport demonstrated its commitment to the community when Super Storm Sandy destroyed the building, causing a six-year shutdown.
“The community came together and raised $1 million to get this roller-skating rink back up and running,” she said. The 7,000-square-foot rink was completely refurbished in 2018.
The community sold out for the Halloween bash in October 2021 after the pandemic shutdown. During the height of COVID, families would rent the rink for private use, just to bring their loved ones out to skate, Ryan said.
The rink is located at 102 Third Street in Greenport, north of the Shelter Island Ferry. For more information, visit https://greenportamericanlegion.org.