Cape city council shows support for skate park

While no formal action was taken, the Cape Girardeau City Council voiced its support for a proposed skate park at its regular meeting Monday night.

Cape Girardeau native Chris Hutson said in a presentation before the council that it's been his goal for roughly five years to bring a skate park to the city. It's been a favorite hobby of his since childhood, one that he's passed along to his children.

He said he's visited skate parks in other cities and believes Cape Girardeau could benefit from having one of its own.

After visiting each place "I began to notice all the friends and people we met at these places and thought Cape is really missing out by not having one ..." he told the council.

Skating is his passion, but Hutson said it was important that the park be multiuse, meaning BMX bikers, skateboarders and rollerbladers could enjoy the facilities.

Since the fair board approved granting land at East Rodney Drive and Hawthorn Road for the park's use, he said the park has overcome its biggest hurdle. The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Advisory Board has given its approval to the project and Hutson said he hoped to receive similar support from the council.

The main questions from members and city manager Scott Meyer focused on cost projections and maintenance. Hutson said current cost projections were estimated at $300,000. Other skate parks can cost up to a quarter or half a million dollars, he said, but using more affordable materials such as pre-cast concrete helped keep the cost down. And each component would be bolted down, meaning it could more easily be removed and taken away by truck or forklift to be repaired.

Julia Thompson, director of the city's parks and recreation department, pointed out that the property set aside for the park -- near the Arena Building -- already was mowed and maintained by the city.

Hutson said he planned to raise the necessary money and already heard from interested investors.

"I'm going to raise as much as I can. I'm ready to go knock on doors now," he said.

Councilwoman Loretta Schneider and Mayor Harry Rediger both voiced their approval for the project.

"I think it sounds like a great project," Rediger said. "Another destination item to add to Cape Girardeau."

Other business

• Patrick Koetting took his seat on the council after he was formally sworn in Monday night. Rediger welcomed him to the council and said he appreciated Koetting's willingness to provide representation to the ward. Koetting will serve as the Ward 3 councilman until the fall elections.

The council also agreed to meet in a brief special meeting May 27 to call the special election for the new Ward 3 representative.

• In a unanimous vote, ordinances authorizing the demolition of four structures were approved. A representative from Fannie Mae addressed the council before the vote asking for a one-month extension on the demolition of a building at 219 N. Middle St., citing historical value and the possibility of selling the building to be salvaged. But the council approved the demolition after city staff said repeated attempts were made to contact Fannie Mae in the past and little could be done to salvage the structure.

Other structures approved for demolition are at 1751 Luce St., 1022 Perry Ave. and 513 William St.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.