An unwanted roller-skating rink could be coming soon to Central Islip, according to organizations Central Islip Vote and Islip Forward, which brought the matter to the attention of residents of the Town of Islip’s plans. However, the organizations argue that there was no transparency with Central Islip and members of the community weren’t made aware by the Town of Islip, but rather the organizations dedicated to advocating for the town. The organizations state that the funding for the roller rink should be decided by residents and those who actually live in the area, with residents wanting the money going toward resources that will improve the community in terms of safety and its youth.

The roller rink is to be constructed on Clayton Street by the Central Islip Community Park. Currently, the land has already been dug up, although it is  not clear if construction has continued.

The first talks about the project were on March 17, at the Central Islip Coalition of Good Neighbors meeting. It was a surprise to many, as there had been no public announcement or community meeting. Several residents were hearing about the proposed roller rink for the first time, and that public funds were being used to pay for a facility they hadn’t been consulted on.

The organization met with councilman Jorge Guadrón on March 20, councilman James O’Connor on April 17, and the leadership of Central Islip Coalition of Good Neighbors on April 21. At the conclusion of the meeting, the councilmen weren’t completely sure of how the money for the roller rink had been allocated. This resulted in both organizations going public with the information to inform residents.

In just under 48 hours, Islip Forward stated that over 18,000 individuals and over 7,000 Central Islip residents had been reached regarding the issue. Many were surprised, as there had been no public announcement of what was going to come to their town. There wasn’t a community meeting, and residents were just learning about public funds being used on a project of which they had no awareness.

“Despite rising infrastructure concerns and public safety challenges in our neighborhood, the Town of Islip approved this project without transparency, public notice, or engagement,” Islip Forward said in a statement. “Even local elected officials admitted they were unaware of how the funding was allocated.”

Islip Forward is a grassroots civic organization that is dedicated to supporting residents in Brentwood, Central Islip and Islip through advocacy, education and accountability.

“We believe that government works best when it listens to the people it serves,” founder and executive director of Islip Forward, Ahmad Perez, said. “Our work centers on ensuring communities, especially those historically overlooked, have a real voice in the decisions that shape their futures.”

Since then, the organization has taken it upon themselves to bring awareness to the issue, saying it is the exact kind of exclusion they are dedicated to challenging.

“When a project is approved and funded without community input, especially in a place like Central Islip, where residents have been asking for road repairs, youth programs, and safety investments, it sends a message that our needs don’t matter,” Perez said. “We’re stepping in because our community deserves transparency and a seat at the table.”

Islip Forward wants the Town of Islip to meet with residents and members of the community in order to be transparent. They say that having TOI-360, a platform the Town of Islip has implemented to guide the next 20 years for the community’s growth and development, isn’t enough for residents and those affected by the town’s proposal.

Town of Islip supervisor Angie Carpenter reached out to Islip Forward earlier this week on May 19. She stated that for many years, residents have been vocal about the lack of support for youth activities and facilities within the northern part of town. Regarding the transparency of such projects, Carpenter mentioned it was “unrealistic” for the Town of Islip to hold community meetings for any Parks and Recreation improvement that is planned.

Carpenter also mentioned that the funds being used toward the rink come from ARPA – American Rescue Plan Act funding, which started back in 2021 in response to COVID-19.

“It is also important to note that this project is being funded through designated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding, and that the allocation of funds for this project was approved by vote of the town board,” Carpenter said. “This type of funding is separate from the money that we invest in our road repairs and infrastructure improvements—of which we have done many.”

The Islip Bulletin reached out to councilmen Guadrón and O’Connor for comment, but received no response.