The location of the skate park is no longer up in the air. It has landed at McMinnville Civic Center.
An information session has been set for Thursday, May 18, at 5:30 p.m. at Park Theater. During the meeting specifics of the skate park will be provided, including breakdown on cost, conceptual drawings, dimensions of the park and its location between Cat Walker and Edley Newman fields.
Consideration was given to placing the skate park at Rocket Park with its revitalization effort, but that idea was rejected.
“They had a great meeting and a lot of the people who will be using the park attended,” said Alderman Ben Newman. “This will probably be the final drawing of what will happen. This got a lot of things the skateboarders wanted. It allows them to move around freely and it stays within the budget.”
When discussion turned to placement being at Rocket Park and including it in with the area’s master plan for revitalization, Mayor Jimmy Haley voiced his opposition.
“In talking with students and their parents, none of them want the skate park down there,” said Haley.
Haley said transportation and safety are concerns because teens would often be using their skateboards to get to the park and traveling Beersheba Highway.
“I think everyone wants it more centrally located at the Civic Center,” said Alderman Steve Harvey.
The skate park coming to fruition after years of discussion is thanks to Friends of the Greenway members who obtained a grant for $90,000 from The Steven and Kate Smith Community Trust. As part of the grant, the skate park will be named after the couple.
According to McMinnville Parks and Recreation director Scott McCord, group members are currently seeking additional funding to be used on the project.
“They found an extra $10,000 for the pad,” said McCord. “I think they are trying to get another $10,000, if we make it nonsmoking.”
A date for construction has yet to be announced.