City commission OKs skate park construction pact

A project to build a local skate park rolls forward after the Fort Scott City Commission approved paperwork for the plan during a special meeting Wednesday.

The commission approved the transfer of land and signing of the contracts for construction of the park after attorneys for both the city of Fort Scott and USD 234 recently hammered out details on a land swap between the two entities that paved the way for the park.

"This is another great project for the town of Fort Scott," City Manager Dave Martin said.

Martin thanked Fort Scott Skatepark Committee Co-Convenors Nate Lyons and Bailey Gray -- who were present for the meeting -- for their work on the project, and USD 234 for land that will be used to build the park.

"This is a good project for our citizens," Martin said.

Martin added all legal documents for the project have been reviewed and signed and the school district is also pleased with the proposal. Assistant City Manager Susan Brown said the city is safe on all liability issues concerning the park and will have proper signage installed.

The proposed 2,500 to 3,000-square-foot park, expected to cost $90,000, will be located parallel to U.S. Highway 69 between the Third and Sixth Street catwalks. SPC Construction Inc., operating as Who Skates, a Kennebunkport, Maine-based company that travels across the country building skate parks, will manage construction of the facility and local contractors will be used.

Mayor Jim Adams said with the chosen company, "We'll be getting a lot more skate park for the money."

Brown said the committee has already recruited some local labor to help with the project and the city will be contributing some work as well. The committee will be looking for more local contractors and volunteers to provide in-kind labor before they break ground on the project. A date for the groundbreaking has not yet been announced.

Some of the land where the park will be located is owned by the city and some by the school district. The land swap involved putting city property in the district's name and deeding property in the school district's name to the city.

Brown said school district property will not be affected by construction of the park. The city will own the land the park is built on and a fence will be constructed to separate the two properties.

Design drawings and plans have been completed and it will take about two weeks to complete concrete work for the park. The park is expected to be built by April 1, Brown said.

Commissioner Jean Parker said she supports the project, which took "a lot of time and effort on everyone's part."

"The kids want this," she said. "It'll be used. I'm glad to be part of it."

Commissioner Cindy Bartelsmeyer agreed, adding she is "glad young people got behind it."

Lyons said he hopes to keep young people involved with the project once construction begins.

Lyons and Gray thanked commissioners for their support and approving the paperwork Wednesday. Lyons said he is glad to see the skatepark project so close to becoming a reality after three years of planning.

The committee recently met its $100,000 fundraising goal to build the park through grants and donations. A recent anonymous $25,000 donation helped the committee meet its goal.

For more information, visit the committee's website, www.fortscottskatepark.com.