Skate park is step closer

City puts project out for bids this month, hopes to build this summer

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

— A new skate park in Gentry’s city park is another step closer to being built with the city advertising for bids on the project and hoping bids come in low enough to make the park a reality.

Separate sealed bids for the purchase, assembly and installation of items for the skate spot park for the city of Gentry will be received until 2 p.m. June 25, when they will be opened and read aloud.

At its May meeting the city council approved accepting $40,000 in grant money for the construction of a skate facility in the city park.

The city had applied for $80,000 in grant money through the Outdoor Grant Program of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. The grant isa 50/50 matching grant, so the city had also budgeted $80,000 in city funds for the skate park project.

The plan proposed by the Parks Committee and approved by the council is to accept the $40,000 and match it, making $80,000 available for construction of the skate facility and adjoining playground. The city would use the remaining $40,00 in itsbudget to pay professional fees and to build required access walks to the skate park.

The skate facility and playground project is being put out for bids, and the city is hoping the project can be completed for $80,000.

The park facility has been in the planning stages for more than a year, but money has been short and the city had to place the skate facility on hold. A fund-raising drive a year ago failed to bring in enough to move the project forward.

News, Pages 1 on 06/02/2010