Recent news reports have stated plans are in motion to demolish the Santa Fe skate park to make way for new t-ball diamonds shortly. However; according to Emporia Recreation Commission leadership, those plans are still in the discussion phase.
Plans for said work were discussed at the ERC’s board meeting in May, however, no action was taken by commissioners at that time. Rec Director Tom McEvoy tells KVOE News there are plans for the installation of new t-ball fields drawn up, however, there has been no vote or approval of the project or potential demolition of the Santa Fe skate park thus far.
McEvoy says the ERC and city of Emporia leadership plan to discuss the project in greater detail in the coming months. On the city side, City Manager Trey Cocking says work on the Whittier skate park should begin later this month and wrap up by the fall.
He adds, that once the “shiny and new” is in place the city looks forward to working with the ERC to provide for the needs of the community at Sante Fe and “program the space effectively.”
The Santa Fe skate park was constructed roughly 20 years ago, however, it was constructed outside of the parameters of the 99-year lease agreement between the city of Emporia and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad as the agreement originally only permitted the construction of ball diamonds. The skate park project has been in talks for several years following residents’ requests to see an update to the Santa Fe skate park.
Original plans were to have the new project located at Santa Fe, however, following lease negotiations with BNSF, the decision was made to move the project to Whittier in 2022. Back in December, Emporia City Commissioners approved a $250,000 drawdown from the Lake Kahola Fund which will be combined with an anonymous $250,000 donation made back in October of 2021 giving the project $500,000 total. Emporia City Commissioners have stated their desire to use the skate park as the starting point for future expansion in Whittier.
