NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — I have been working on a skate park grant that is federally funded and quite lengthy, and I expect to submit it at the end of this month. Even though I held four public meetings, I still need letters of support as I have only received one to date. If you or any of your business associates would care to, it would be appreciated and very beneficial to show support by emailing or dropping off a letter to Gravette City Hall.

This particular matching grant is administered through the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism’s Outdoor Recreation Grant Program. The city council has previously approved of applying with Resolution Number 05 24 12-1A.

At various city meetings I have heard it often repeated that Gravette does not have enough activities for its children, but I still have a hard time getting support letters from the community at large. This application will carry much more weight and receive higher points when the judging committee sees that our community is supportive and has put out effort to express this fact.

After having surveyed area skate parks in ourregion, we have decided that ours will be located north of the baseball fields in Pop Allum Park. From a planning perspective, this park has become a multi-use center of outdoor activity and that is exactly what the prerequisites of this grant require, as well as longrange recreation goals that incorporate existing parkland.

I appreciate your assistance and look forward to hearing from you. If you have questions, call 787-5368.

Allyson Ransom, City of Gravette Director of Communications

Opinion, Pages 7 on 07/11/2012