Christopher Lugo
editor@highlandsnews.com
At the Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, March 8, representatives from Sk828 asked the board for funding, and the board approved giving $35,000 toward the new skatepark.
Andre Taylor with The Skateboard Project, formerly the Tony Hawk Foundation, sent a letter to the Board of Commissioners stating their support of SK828’s efforts to obtain funding.
“We’ve worked closely with passionate members of the Franklin community to help them en-sure the skatepark project is completed efficiently and up to contemporary standards,” Taylor wrote in the letter. “It’s clear to us that there’s a solid group of core volunteers. They’ve created a platform for the voices of the local action sports community to be heard, and a pathway for them to experience meaningful civic engagement. Not only will these folks be immersed in local government, public policy and project planning, but it’s a collective endeavor that will result in a truly unique space that serves the community for decades. We’re confident the project will continue to follow the path of best practices, including the hiring of specialist skatepark design and construction firms to adequately execute the community’s vision.”
Daniel Lawton said the initial $35,000 for concrete and rebar is needed soon because J.E. Dunn, the construction company volunteering their time to build part of the skatepark, is going to leave once they are finished with constructing the new hospital.
“We are really hoping to get this done sooner than later,” Lawton said. “Even Bryson City has a skatepark. Highlands has a nice skatepark. Cherokee has a world class one. As people keep moving in, it seems like there is less and less for the kids. We really want to light a fire of importance.”
Tim Shaw with Sk828 said speed and proper planning are going to be the seeds to their success.
“The J.E. Dunn Construction Company has graciously offered their time and expertise to help build the skatepark,” Shaw said. “They will be marking out the features at the skate park in the next couple days and will be moving dirt in the next couple weeks. Soon after, they will be pouring concrete and the cost of that concrete will be $30,000. The cost of supporting rebar will be $5,000. They will need this money now for purchase. Once the initial pour is complete, a skatepark finishing contractor will come in and safely complete the work. This will cost approximately $12,000. They will need to be scheduled now, for the completion date to be June 30.”
Shaw said Sk828 is currently in the grant process with The Skateboard Project, and they told him that Macon County’s median household income falls below the state average, which makes the community an underserved community that should have a skatepark.
“I was impressed that they are actually doing a lot of research about us,” Shaw said. “If they should continue the grant process, how much should the grant be worth? From their letter, they say, ‘We feel the Franklin skatepark project is worth supporting and look forward to seeing who in the area has stepped up to help create a space that changes lives and transforms a community.’ So, they are seeing who in the community is going to step up and provide funding, and if the town and county government support the skatepark. Our success will depend on everyone here working together now, because we are on a time constraint.”
Commissioner Ronnie Beale had several questions for Shaw including who would govern the skate park, liability, and if there would be lights at the skate park.
“There will not be an adult there at all times, because that isn’t needed,” Shaw said. “We are not trying to reinvent the wheel. There is a sign that is always approved by the state. It tells our ordinances, and it says that skating is a dangerous sport, and you can skate unsupervised, but you need to wear a helmet. I have talked to the park’s director at Morganton and the park’s director at Highlands and there won’t be police driving around to make sure kids have helmets on. In general, the kids police themselves. Almost inevitably there is a parent or two there, so it is not a thing where you have to put a fence or a lock on the skatepark. It is always taken care of.”
Shaw said all of the money donated will be given to Region A, who will disperse the funds.
“Region A has a foundation set up,” Beale said. “The money will be funneled through the foundation.”
Commissioner Gary Shields made a motion to take $35,000 from the contingency fund and give it to Region A to disperse to Sk828 for the skatepark. Beale seconded the motion, and it was unanimously passed.