Greenport to celebrate 25 years of Mitchell Park, raise funds for ice rink
The Village of Greenport will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Mitchell Park on Saturday with a fundraising effort for its new ice skating rink.
The “Let’s Raise the Rink” Community Picnic will run from 6 to 10 p.m. in Mitchell Park. Admission is free. Donations will be accepted to support the campaign to raise $100,000 for the rink. Every dollar contributed will be matched, up to $100,000, by Friends of Mitchell Park.
“This is a special day for Greenport,” Mayor Kevin Stuessi said. “It’s the perfect opportunity to come together as a community, enjoy everything that makes Greenport unique, and help bring back an amenity that generations of families have enjoyed.”
The event coincides with the return of the U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle to Greenport Harbor.
During the day, attendees will be able to take tours of the vessel from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There also will be a free screening of “Blades of Glory” at 1 p.m., courtesy of the North Fork Arts Center.
The “Raise the Rink” Community Picnic will bring much more to the table, including live music by Deadwood and Friends, a barbecue from the Greenport Fire Department Marine Rescue, local oysters, doublespeak craft cocktails, wine from Suhru + Lieb Vineyards, Shaka Shave Ice and a slapshot competition in partnership with the New York Islanders.
“The Saturday evening event is made possible through amazing community volunteers and the generous donation by The Oyster Estate,” Mr. Stuessi said.
The ice rink project received a $1.2 million grant from Gov. Kathy Hochul in August 2024 to build a permanent seasonal rink, which has not operated regularly for about six years. The campaign first gained traction when it launched in April, with the first $25,000 pledged by an anonymous donor.
