Dirt work and construction on the city of Emporia’s new skate park could potentially begin next summer.
That’s the hope for city leadership following the Emporia City Commission’s approval of a $250,000 drawdown from the Lake Kahola Fund during the commission’s regular meeting Wednesday morning. Those dollars will be combined with an anonymous $250,000 donation made back in October of 2021 giving the project $500,000 total.
According to City Manager Trey Cocking, American Ramp Company, the design company tasked with creating the new skate park facility, is still in the design phase with a stakeholders meeting scheduled for late winter or early spring.
The skate park project has been in talks for several years following residents’ requests to see an update to the current Santa Fe skate park. Original plans were to have the new project located at Santa Fe, however, following lease negotiations with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, the decision was made to move the project to Whittier last year.
Emporia City Commissioners have stated their desire to use the skate park as the starting point for future expansion in Whittier.
