Sikeston close to getting skate park built

SIKESTON, Mo. -- After almost one year of planning and fundraising, those involved with the future Sikeston skate park are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

The Sikeston City Council's final budget for the 2009 fiscal year, which begins July 1, includes $15,000 for the Sikeston skate park. Jiggs Moore, Sikeston Parks and Recreation director, said he wants to "move on it as soon as possible."

Skate park equipment vendors will soon be contacted and bid specifics put out. Moore said he hopes to get bid specifics out this summer and be able to start piecing together the park equipment by the fall.

"Hopefully, we'll get something going on it and have something in place for the kids in the not distant future," he said.

The concrete pad for the skate park, in the Sikeston Sports Complex on the corner of Stephens and Campanella Drive, was laid in November. Plans are underway for the equipment to go on the pad.

Cindy Taylor, who leads the Sikeston Skatepark Committee, said there are some designs picked out, but it ultimately will depend on who receives the contract to build the equipment.

Taylor said she is thrilled the skate park is finally becoming tangible.

"I think it's wonderful. We definitely need it in order for us to go forward," she said. "We accomplished something that everyone said would not get done."

Taylor described receiving money for the skate park as "overwhelming excitement."

"You don't understand the kind of stress we've been through," she said. "It has been very hard to get fundraising."

Taylor said although the park has received the money, they will continue raising money.

The next fundraiser will be a car wash sometime this month. She said the money goes toward the park equipment and making the skate park better. Almost $16,000 has been raised through donations and fundraisers so far.