Lynbrook roller hockey rink receives $850K grant for canopy

When 10-year-old Owen Burkart steps onto the outdoor roller hockey rink in Lynbrook’s Greis Park, his most challenging opponents isn’t always the other team.

Sometimes it’s the sun.

“The sun is always in my eyes because I play goalie,” Owen said, “and it makes it hard to see the puck.”

For Owen and hundreds of other players who lace up their roller skates to take part in the Lynbrook Roller Hockey League each year, relief could be on the way. The village will receive an $850,000 federal Community Project Funding grant, secured by U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen, to help construct an all-weather canopy over the roller hockey rink. The project is expected to make the facility usable year-round while creating space for expanded youth sports, community events and police outreach programs.

Community Project Funding allows members of Congress to request federal funding for local infrastructure and community projects.

“These resources will help transform the public roller rink into a year-round, multi-use facility, preserving an important community asset and ensuring it remains an accessible space for the families who depend on it,” Gillen wrote in an email to the Herald. “Beyond expanding recreational opportunities, the transformed rink will also strengthen community connections.”

Lynbrook Police Chief Brian Paladino, who has been president of the Roller Hockey League for the past three years, said he got the idea for the rink roof when he learned about the federal grant opportunity.

“In the summer, it’s basically unusable because it’s so hot during the day,” Paladino said of the Greis Park rink. “Then, in the winter, snow keeps us off the rink. This canopy opens the door to year-round programming.”

Paladino assembled an application after researching the cost of installing a canopy, and, he said, Gillen called him after reviewing the proposal. “She loved the idea as a hockey mom herself,” Paladino said. “She said, ‘I’d love to go forward with the grant.’”

The federal funding will cover roughly half of the estimated $1.7 million cost of the project. The village, Paladino said, is now seeking additional public and private partnerships to pay for what he described as a partially enclosed structure with a steel canopy and weather-resistant sides. If that isn’t possible, the village will still move forward with a traditional overhead canopy that would shield the rink from the sun, rain and snow.

“I hope we get our A-choice structure,” Paladino said. “But anything is better than what we have right now.”

Beyond allowing roller hockey games to continue in more consistent conditions, Paladino said the covered rink could host volleyball, deck hockey, lacrosse clinics, community fairs and other recreational programs throughout the year. The Police Department also plans to expand youth outreach initiatives at the facility.

“I’ve had great experiences there with my own family,” Paladino said. “All three of my kids played in the league, and I made lifelong friends. I’m hoping with this canopy we can improve the Roller Hockey League and give back to the village with year-round programs that expand beyond hockey.”

For coach Don, the father of 10-year-old Owen, the biggest benefit may simply be consistency.

“Any moisture or light rain makes the rink very slippery, and you’re unable to roller skate,” explained. “Even when it’s not raining, the surface gets super-hot. Without some protection from the weather, it’s challenging to play with those conditions.”

Rainouts frequently push games later into the summer, forcing families to juggle vacations and camps with make-up games. said he believed the canopy would make scheduling more reliable while attracting more players and programs.

“It brings more attention to Greis Park from a roller hockey perspective,” he said. “Right now, we really have spring and fall. With a roof, we can have all four seasons.”

Burkart added that year-round access would help players improve without having to travel to neighboring communities. “Right now, if I want my son to get more rink time, I have to sign him up in another town,” he said. “If we have leagues all year here, he can stay close to home, play with his friends and keep developing.”

For Owen, though, the rink has always been about more than roller hockey. “My favorite part is playing with my friends,” he said, adding that the facility has become a place where children throughout the community can gather safely.

“It’s important because it gets people together and it’s a safe environment,” Owen said. “I felt safe playing there, and it’s close to my house.”

Gillen said that projects like the rink canopy are exactly what Community Project Funding is intended to support. “One of the best parts of my work in the House is bringing our tax dollars back home to enhance our district and improve the lives of residents,” she wrote in an email. “This project stood out for the lasting impact it will have on Lynbrook and Nassau families.”

Paladino said that construction will begin once the federal funding process and environmental review are complete. While no official timeline has been set, he hopes the project will be finished within the next two years.