Design for skate park in Jackson nearly done

Next spring, there will be a place in Jackson's city park for acid drops, feeblegrinds and drop-ins.

Jackson park director Shane West Anderson assures that skateboarders everywhere will be stoked.

Finally, skateboarders here will have a place to practice their sport without being run off by property owners or the police.

Recent weekly meetings in the park have included several skateboarders on the design of a new skateboard park to be funded in part by a $60,000 donation by the city's two Optimist clubs. The original design that was displayed at a city council meeting was ridiculed by skateboarders who attended the meeting and saw the design for the first time.

The skateboarders then became involved in another round of discussions to help the city come up with a design that wouldn't be too boring but still fall within the $60,000 budget.

The meetings have resulted in a design to please novice and more advanced skateboarders.

Anderson announced last week that the skateboarders have agreed to put the park design out for bid next spring.

Anderson wouldn't make the design public because he said there was still some tweaking to do. But the new design will cost more than $60,000, he said. How much more, he isn't sure yet, but it will cost less than $70,000.

In the meantime, skateboarders will organize fund raisers to help pay for the equipment -- an extra grind box and bank ramp -- that goes beyond the $60,000 budget.

Originally, the skateboarders wanted a park ready this fall, but Anderson said everyone has agreed that the quality of the park will be better if the project is done next year, after the money is raised.

"They understood," Anderson said. "Originally, there was some disappointment that it wasn't going to be done this fall, but they'd rather put it back a few months and get what they want."

Once a bid is accepted on the project, Anderson said, the skate area will be constructed quickly.

The skateboarders park design committee will continue to meet on Tuesday evenings at the park, beginning on July 13. Among items to be discussed are ways to raise money for the extra equipment.

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635