Ongoing efforts to update the skate park in Santa Fe Park received a tremendous boost Wednesday.
The Emporia Community Foundation announced during the Emporia City Commission’s action session Wednesday evening that an anonymous family had made a significant donation to the park’s upgrade efforts. The total donation, $250,000, is enough to cover roughly 75 percent of the estimated construction costs according to Emporia Community Foundation Executive Director Becky Nurnberg.
Nurnberg says the anonymous donors were moved by the efforts of a young Emporia resident, Maddox Gutierrez, who was a major driving force for the revitalization efforts.
During the meeting, Gutierrez stated he was very grateful for the donation and thankful the family “picked up the ball and kept it rolling” after fearing efforts may slow down following the signing of a petition to begin the improvements.
Emporia City Manager Mark McAnarney says Gutierrez’s efforts and the anonymous donation is a great example of how hard work and dedication truly pay off.
The skate park has seen little to no updates in roughly 19 years. In May, the city launched a survey to the general public asking what improvements they would like to see to the park through early June.
McAnarney says those results have been handed over to a consulting firm that is helping with the scope of the project. There is no word yet on when construction work may begin.
