Cape businessman, city keep plans rolling for new skate park

Chris Hutson is rolling ahead with plans for a top-notch skate park. He has the land. He has cash donations and hopes for more. All he needs now is $200,000 in Cape Girardeau city tax dollars.

He could have the funding by next summer if the city council agrees to it.

Hutson already has the support of the parks and recreation advisory board, city staff and several council members, including the mayor.

The furniture-store owner began pushing for development of a skate park about six years ago, sparked by the interest of his then-young sons in skateboarding.

“We hit skate parks all over the country,” recalled Hutson, who also enjoyed the activity.

Hutson said the goal is to develop a multi-use skate park to serve skateboard, Rollerblade and BMX bicycle enthusiasts.

The Cape Girardeau City Council recently approved a trimmed-down plan to spend extra sales-tax money on park projects, pushing back plans for several projects, including the skate park, to next year at the earliest.

At the same time, several council members voiced support for proceeding with all the park projects over the next few years.

Hutson has worked with American Ramp Co. of Joplin, Missouri, to develop plans for the park.

“We have gone through five or six revisions,” Hutson said.

The skate park would be similar to one that opened recently in Joplin, he said.

Plans call for construction of a concrete, triangle-shaped skate park in Arena Park.

The SEMO Fair Board donated the land near East Rodney Drive and Hawthorne Road, near the city’s walking/biking trail. The vacant ground currently is used for overflow parking for the annual district fair.

Hutson estimated the value of the donated land at $100,000.

In addition, he has raised about $56,000 for the project, including $20,000 from the local parks and recreation foundation.

Hutson said he continues to seek donations.

Parks and stormwater sales-tax revenue would pay for the bulk of the approximately $300,000 project.

Hutson said the location near the trail would make the skate park more accessible to children.

The precast concrete park would feature a variety of skating elements, including rails, steps and curved surfaces such as a bowl and a “halfpipe,” Hutson said.

John Dodd, owner of the Cyclewerx bicycle shop, said, “It will be awesome.”

Dodd was one of several people who worked with Hutson to develop plans for the skate park.

Dodd said, “I think it is a great opportunity to have something for the kids.”

He and Hutson believe the skate park would be heavily used.

Hutson said the skate park also could draw regional tournaments, a growing trend fueled by the popularity of ESPN coverage of national competitions such as the X Games.

The downtown merchant said such tournaments would be good for the local economy and a tourism draw.

But project supporters said the skate park would first and foremost provide recreational opportunities.

Hutson and Dodd said the city’s current skate park is primitive compared to what they want to build.

The current park features a handful of small, metal ramps on a converted tennis court at Missouri Park, a few blocks north of downtown.

“The city did the best with what we have,” Hutson said.

But Hutson said the metal ramps are “hot in the summer and slick when wet.”

The proposed concrete structure in Arena Park would be far more attractive and challenging for skateboard, Rollerblade and BMX enthusiasts, he said.

Those wanting to engage in such activities prefer to skate at facilities in Farmington and Poplar Bluff in Missouri, as well as Carbondale, Illinois, and Paducah, Kentucky, Hutson said.

Parks and recreation director Julia Thompson said people find the existing skate site at Missouri Park “in rough shape right now.”

Hunter Bomar, 19, wants the city to move ahead with a new skate park.

“I just hope they do it,” he said as he skated at Missouri Park on Tuesday. “A lot of people are talking about it.”

Bomar said he has skateboarded at Missouri Park since he was 9.

The Missouri Park site used to have more skate features and once was fenced, he said.

After the fence was removed, the park “started going downhill,” Bomar said.

Thompson said the proposed skate park is “a really important project” to meet the recreational needs of young teenagers.

She said it has taken time to plan the project, securing everything from design to site.

The skate park was one of a number of projects initially proposed for funding from the parks and stormwater sales tax several years ago.

The city council cut it from the final list in favor of other projects that were considered higher-priority. Voters approved the tax in 2008.

Thompson said the proposed location at Arena Park will be much more visible than the Missouri Park site and make it easier to “keep an eye on the activity.”

The walking trail also runs through Osage Park, but some of the park land there is subject to flash flooding, making it less desirable, she said.

The skate park project has sparked growing interest, Thompson said.

“I think people want to jump on board with the project.”

Hutson hopes the skate park will be built and opened by 2018. Meanwhile, he said he will continue to promote it.

“I keep pushing it,” he said.

Hutson, who as a teenager routinely skateboarded around town, knows what to do if or when the skateboard park opens.

A smiling Hutson said he will skate through the park.

mbliss@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

Arena Park, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Missouri Park, Cape Girardeau, Mo.