The Marshalltown Skate Park has received a $20,000 boost in fundraising through a Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation grant.
The new funding will make way for permanent placement of two existing ramps on a concrete surface and add more features to the park at 901 S. Sixth Street, near the South Sixth Street Softball Complex.
"Our hope is to actually have a good concrete pad under it to incorporate in overall design," said Terry Gray, Parks and Recreation director. "But more importantly we're looking to add some of the street features that kids really like - the stairs, the rails, the grind rails, the little jumps. It adds another element to it so it will appeal to all levels that boarders and bikers both look for in a park."
Construction of the park began in July 2010, with temporary placement of the ramps on asphalt. The ramps will move to the center of the park, allowing the addition of other features.
Seed money was originally supplied by the city of Marshalltown, however fundraising efforts have been underway since late 2008.
A Marshall County Community Foundation grant of $5,000 made it possible for work on the park to begin. Last year a summer Skate Park Fest fundraiser drew strong interest to the project, Gray said.
Angie Lins-Eich, chair of the Skate Park Committee, is ecstatic about the grant.
"I couldn't believe it when I received the email from Terry," she said. "It just means so much when you've invested so much in a project and know how much in means to the kids."
Lins-Eich said the Skate Park Fest fundraiser was so successful, plans are underway for another festival June 10. With local bands, vendors and skate competitions, she hopes the community will come out to support the project, she said.
"There is this neat group of people that skate or bike," she said. "It will be good for our community and young adults to be active and get out there - It's going to be really cool for Marshalltown."
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Contact Abigail Pelzer at 641-753-6611 or apelzer@timesrepublican.com
