Throughout her tenure as a trustee of the Village Board of Garden City, Eileen Collins took the opportunity to voice her desire to see a Village roller hockey rink constructed beyond the two circles of asphalt located on the outskirts of Community Park. At one Village Board meeting she brought a hockey jersey, at another she, during her report, showed the trustees and residents a sports page featuring the U.S. Women's Hockey Team with their Olympic Gold Medal and again voiced her opinion that the Village should encourage the community's "future gold medal winners" by providing the desired roller hockey rinks. It was at the Feb. 19, 1998 meeting that EPOA President James Brady stated that the EPOA had officially voted to support the Village's possible expenditure of $70,000 for two new roller hockey rinks to be constructed at Community Park. Also, the WPOA had issued a statement of support for the rinks the week before in their newsletter.

Some residents had argued that tax dollars should not be used to improve the asphalt lots, but with petitions, letters, and POA support, the roller hockey fans and parents of players prevailed. The proponents of the new rinks, at the time, cited the initiatives of villages such as Mineola which was in the process of constructing a roller hockey rink with half-walls, fencing, and lighting. Mineola's Police Activity League has its own roller hockey rink as well, located on Second Street next to the PAL's ball fields and main building. When the existing rinks at Community Park were compared to these other rinks, many who were in opposition to the expenditure conceded that repaving, putting up walls, and installing lighting would improve the appearance of the rinks. In order for kids to play at night, many currently use the open parking fields behind Lord & Taylor across the street from the Senior Recreation Center, which provide bright lighting and plenty of space to play, but are unsupervised.

After budget meetings and planning by the Recreation Department with the Recreation Commission and Village staff, construction of the new and improved roller hockey rinks began this year. The Recreation Department has finished enough work to open Rink #1 to residents for use now. The walls and fence have been installed and there are now two new hockey nets. The rink itself will receive a treatment of what is called "street ice," as well, but this step will take place once Rink #2 is complete, allowing there to always be one open rink for use.

Lighting for each of the rinks has not yet been installed, but is scheduled to go in sometime in the beginning of this fall. As the Recreation Department has announced that they will be creating leagues and holding clinics at the new rinks, evening games will be likely, and with the new lighting, can be held in the fall and winter, despite the early sunsets. The lights will be overhead stadium style lights to provide safety as well and the rinks will be fully supervised by a member of the Recreation Department staff.

Rink #1 is open for use and supervised during the summer hours from noon until dark seven days per week. Use is currently determined on an arrive-and-stake-a-claim system, rather than reserving the space in advance. Skaters must wear a helmet in order to be admitted into the rink and the directions or rules of the Recreation Department attendant must be followed.

The grand opening ceremony will most likely take place in the mid-fall of this year when all work has been completed.