GALESBURG, Ill. — A skating rink in Galesburg is getting help from the community.
The Knoxville American Legion hosted a silent and live auction to raise funds for a new floor for the Skate Palace.
Mike Spinks reopened Skate Palace in 2023 after it sat vacant for years.
"When I work with these kids when I'm there for 15 or 16 hours at a time and I go home and sleep for a couple of hours, it's not a job. It's something that- I mean, that's my livelihood," Spinks said.
But even with a remodel, the floor is showing its age.
Carlos Sosa is a lifelong patron of Skate Palace. He said a new floor will hopefully bring more people.
"Some of the people's already seen the floor, you know, they're kind of scared of getting out here and trying to skate, you know, with all the cracks," Sosa said.
Another skating alum stepped up to help replace the floor. Rebekah Hawkins is the bar manager of the Knoxville American Legion. She grew up going to the rink, and now her kids skate there, too.
"I just thought of the silent auction and the live auction and just hoped that it would work out in our favor, and we would raise some money for him and the kids," Hawkins said.
She said she's glad to see Spinks keep the rink around, especially with few options for kids' activities in town.
"This is one of the funnest things in Galesburg to do," Chase, a regular skater, said. He and his friends come to the rink all the time.
The kids said they're excited to see the community help improve the rink for them — and for more kids in the future.
"It means a lot to me too, 'cause the future generations that come here will be able to skate here, have fun, make memories like we all did," Brianna, another regular, said.
Once the skating rink flooring is replaced, Spinks plans on adding more sports amenities like indoor batting cages.
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