V. Stream hockey rink turns into skate park

Skateboarders in Valley Stream now have a lawful place where they can show off their moves and tricks, village officials said.

The village’s underused hockey rink, near the Long Island Rail Road station on Sunrise Highway near Hicks Street, was recently turned into a skateboarding park. Following a street course design, the park features a bank ramp, fly box wave, launch and grind rails.

Mayor Edwin Fare said skateboarders usually are on the streets, school property and shopping centers because they haven't had a park where they could legally skate. He hopes the new skate park will change that, he said.

“If the demand for this is great, I would love to build a permanent park for them,” Fare said, adding that 50 people have registered to use the park.

The village purchased about $20,000 worth of equipment that can be moved and stored, Fare said.

Currently, the park is only open to Central High School District and village residents, ages 7 and older. There is an $18 annual membership fee for village residents and $55 for Central High School District residents. Admission might soon be offered to nonresidents for $3 per visit, Fare said.

“We got the park open, but now we are looking for ways to improve it,” Fare said. “There is nothing that is off the table.”

For more information, call the village’s Department of Parks and Recreation at 516-825-8570 or email vsrec@vsvny.org.