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Donation helps make skatepark a reality
A $25,000 donation from a Colorado businessman has helped the Fort Scott Skatepark Committee reach its goal to create a facility for skateboarders.
Steven Tedesco, who owns oil and gas exploration and production companies based in Centennial, Colo., that generate revenues for landowners, and his wife, Christine, donated $25,000 to help the committee secure funding needed to make the skatepark a reality.
Tedesco, whose companies do work in Bourbon, Vernon and Linn counties, said he heard about the project from several of his employees who have stayed in Fort Scott and he "decided to get involved."
"We're helping out what seemed like a worthwhile project," he said. "It's a nice contribution to the community. We all see skateboarders. Skateparks reduce problems with skateboarding. We thought it was a relatively inexpensive project to help get completed."
Tedesco owns Running Foxes Petroleum Inc. and CST Oil and Gas Corp. and is the chief executive officer of Admiral Bay USA Inc.
The donation was made in the name of Steve's late brother, James B. Tedesco, for whom the park will be named.
"We thought it would be nice," Steve said. "We wanted to name it after the companies but we thought we'd name it after my brother. He (James) was born in Boston and had never been to Fort Scott. It was a decision to honor him."
Tedesco said his parents, as well as James' widow and two daughters, are planning to come to Fort Scott for the skatepark's opening, which has not yet been set.
Tedesco's companies will be contributing manpower and equipment as needed to build the facility.
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. Who Skates, a Kennebunkport, Maine-based company, will manage construction of the facility and local contractors will be used.
The committee has already recruited some local labor to help with the project and the city will contribute some work as well. The committee is looking for more local contractors and volunteers to provide in-kind labor before they break ground.
City Manager Dave Martin said he thinks the project will start in the next few weeks and he's excited about it.
"We've just seen everybody pull together these last five or six months to get it done," he said. "I think this is a project that will help an entirely different group of people who have not been touched before."
A foreman with Who Skates is in town to over details this week, Martin said.
"Within the next two to three weeks I think we'll start seeing something going on down there," Martin said.
Officials said it is expected to take about two weeks to complete concrete work for the park. The facility should be built by April 1.
Martin said the city, which has contributed money to the skatepark from the Special Recreation and Parks fund, will save money by having it built this time of year and will get "a lot more park for the dollar."
Martin said he attended a recent economic development summit in Topeka last week and a Kansas Department of Commerce presenter talked about the importance of amenities such as a skatepark in "selling" the town and enhancing its appearance to attract prospective companies.
"Things like a pool and golf course, these amenities are important," he said. "There's a lot of competition out there."
The committee began planning the skatepark three years ago and recently met its $100,000 fundraising goal to build the park through grants and donations.
For more information, visit the committee's website, www.fortscottskatepark.com.