Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 28, 2006 Skate park may get go-ahead By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE — Park proponents are hoping to get the go-ahead to finish the skate park — and expand it for other uses — at a special council meeting at 5:30 tonight. The city’s skate park has remained an unfinished eyesore for nearly a decade, said Jacksonville resident and citizen advisory committee member Aileen Earnest. "Right now we have an unfinished skate bowl," Earnest said. "The skateboard arena needs to be fixed and expanded." The parks committee decided March 14 to spend $88,000 remaining in its $117,350 budget to complete the skate park, Earnest said. "They voted unanimously to finish the skate park this year," Earnest said. Advertisement But completing the skate park is only the first half of Earnest’s plan. Earnest has urged city leaders to view the area’s potential to become a $250,000 multi-faceted youth park — for an additional $168,500. "This is a small community with a lot of kids," Earnest said. "And we realize there are a lot of other activities kids like to participate in besides skateboarding." Adjacent city-owned space near Jackson Creek could include other youth-related activities such as a BMX track, basketball courts, a ball wall and more, Earnest said. To assuage vandalism worries and parental child safety fears, the expanded park area could be monitored by security cameras with on-line viewing access, Earnest said. The skate park — which was begun in 1997 — had a recent estimated completion cost of $22,615. At a meeting in early March, Councilman Bill Leep said the cost increases and other proposed activities warranted the project’s return trip to the city’s parks committee. Earnest is pursuing several grants in anticipation of council approval, she said. But the most promising also has the fastest approaching deadline, she added. "That’s another reason why we need to get council approval tomorrow night," Earnest said Monday. Earnest is working with City Administrator Paul Wyntergreen to secure a park enhancement grant from Oregon Parks and Recreation, she said. The grant is funded through the state lottery and would be administered by the city, Earnest said. "We’re hopeful," said Earnest. "But we’re still scrambling to put it together." Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail Skate park may get go-ahead ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Hammocks Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Email Security Advertisement s Advertisement