Calverton bubble-domed Westfall Arena closed pending independent engineer sign-off

The bubble-domed Westfall Arena at Veterans Memorial Park in Calverton sagged under heavy snow from the Jan. 25–26 storm, prompting Riverhead Town officials to bar public access until its structural integrity could be certified by an engineer with dome expertise. The closure interrupted skating and rink programs at the Peconic Hockey Foundation facility while crews cleared ice and performed repairs.

Rink staff discovered what director Kevin McCormack described as "a slight deflation" when they arrived Monday morning. Workers re-inflated the dome but found large sheets of ice that had slid off the roof and caused "a couple of tears" that required repair. Riverhead Town’s Fire Marshal, along with building and engineering staff, inspected the structure and deemed it unsafe for occupancy until further review.

Town officials issued an unsafe-structure order that prohibited re-occupancy until an independent engineer could certify the dome safe for public use. Representatives from the town inspected the arena Tuesday morning and maintained the determination after finding the bubble roof had partially sagged under heavy accumulation from Winter Storm Fern. Crews removed all snow and ice from the dome on Wednesday and completed repairs to the damaged membrane as final safety checks were carried out.

Operator Peconic Ice Rinks worked with town engineers through the week. "We are working with the engineer and the town to get permission to reopen and occupy the rink again," McCormack said, adding that "He said he was hopeful that could be as soon as Thursday." He emphasized the operator’s priorities: "We’re taking it day by day. Safety is our top priority."

Riverhead Town Supervisor Jerry Halpin thanked the Fire Marshal’s office for a rapid response and said the town hoped to have the building back in service quickly so residents and visitors could resume winter skating. Council Member Ken Rothwell, an advocate for bringing the rink to the park, expressed confidence the situation would be resolved swiftly and noted that similar bubble-dome rinks operate successfully in snowier regions.

Peconic Hockey Foundation used social media to reassure the public, posting that "We are working diligently with the goal of reopening as soon as possible and will share updates the moment we are cleared to do so," and dismissing online rumors that the arena had collapsed.

After the required structural inspection by town officials, Westfall Arena was cleared to reopen and was operating again as of the afternoon of Jan. 30, according to McCormack. The facility, named for former Islanders star Ed Westfall, opened in 2022 and cost $2.3 million.

For local residents, the episode underlines the tradeoffs of lightweight, inflatable-roof technology in a region prone to occasional heavy snow. The rink’s reopening restores public skating and youth program schedules for now, but town oversight and the operator’s maintenance protocols will remain in focus during this winter season. Expect further notices from Peconic Ice Rinks if additional inspections or preventive measures are scheduled.