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Proposed city skate park to change locations
Move will displace planned parking lot
By Carol Broeder/wick communications
A proposed skate park will be moving to the old police station site on West Maley Street, rather than its previous location at Keiller Park.
During the development of Keiller Park, the city established a site for a skate park in the parking lot off Fremont Street, said Dave Bonner, director of public services and works.
"The council requested the Skate Park Committee raise money to demonstrate the commitment of the skaters in the community," he said in his Jan. 11 letter to the council.
That committee raised about $8,000 through various fundraising efforts, said Bonner, adding that the council had previously agreed to provide matching funds.
This means the city has about $16,000 to work with, he said.
"Public Works and the Skate Park Committee have been evaluating what can be constructed with the existing funds," said Bonner, adding estimates are that a 75' x 90' area can be fenced and a 2,250-square-foot area can be concreted.
"Since the demolition of the former public safety facility, public works was approached about the possibility of utilizing the site for a skate park," he said.
The idea was presented to the Parks and Recreation Committee, as well as representatives of the Skate Park Committee, all of whom were open to it, Bonner said.
"Since the initial discussion with Skate Park Committee representatives, we held a meeting at the location and discussed the location and the existing concrete," he said.
"It quickly became apparent that the existing concrete would not meet the needs in its current condition. But the location and potential to utilize the concrete as the base for a concrete overlay were very appealing."
"We're just thrilled," said Phyllis Arvizu with the Willcox Skate Park Committee.
"We're very pleased. We took the kids over there, and they like it so much better than the park."
"This saves us money," she added. "And the money we do have will go farther. At least it's a start."
Prior to the unanimous vote at the Jan. 19 meeting, Councilman Woody Johnson thanked Councilman Stephen Klump for the suggestion.
The old police station on West Maley Street was demolished in August 2009 by Mascot Homes and Construction of Willcox, which is owned by Klump.
In September 2007, the Willcox Skate Park Committee had presented the city with a check for $5,000.
Mitchell Rios, who was committee chairman at that time, told the council that the committee had done "a lot of work and met many of the criteria" set forth by the council.
"We were asked by the mayor and council to form a committee and it has been formed," he said.
"We have been in existence over a year and have raised some money."
After the check presentation, Councilwoman Monika Cronberg commended the members of the committee for all their work, knowing how hard it is to do.
"When something is earned it is truly valuable," she said.
Cronberg said at the time she was concerned that this has been a "talking point" with the council for more than a year.
"They were directed to go back and raise more money. How many will stay if they only accomplish one thing?" she said.
"What do we have to do to take that first step?"
Cronberg said she is concerned about citizens in need having their needs addressed by the council.
"They are young and have goals to be professional skaters and without a place to skate, they cannot proceed," said Cronberg.
"I am voicing my frustration because part of it has been accomplished, and as a city, we need to take step one to do what we have to do," she said at the time.
"The committee has worked in good faith, so we need to do that and work on step two and so on."
In July 2008, the city placed a sign at the Keiller Park parking lot off Fremont Street, designating the location for the proposed skate park.
By Carol Broeder/wick communications
A proposed skate park will be moving to the old police station site on West Maley Street, rather than its previous location at Keiller Park.
During the development of Keiller Park, the city established a site for a skate park in the parking lot off Fremont Street, said Dave Bonner, director of public services and works.
"The council requested the Skate Park Committee raise money to demonstrate the commitment of the skaters in the community," he said in his Jan. 11 letter to the council.
That committee raised about $8,000 through various fundraising efforts, said Bonner, adding that the council had previously agreed to provide matching funds.
This means the city has about $16,000 to work with, he said.
"Public Works and the Skate Park Committee have been evaluating what can be constructed with the existing funds," said Bonner, adding estimates are that a 75' x 90' area can be fenced and a 2,250-square-foot area can be concreted.
"Since the demolition of the former public safety facility, public works was approached about the possibility of utilizing the site for a skate park," he said.
The idea was presented to the Parks and Recreation Committee, as well as representatives of the Skate Park Committee, all of whom were open to it, Bonner said.
"Since the initial discussion with Skate Park Committee representatives, we held a meeting at the location and discussed the location and the existing concrete," he said.
"It quickly became apparent that the existing concrete would not meet the needs in its current condition. But the location and potential to utilize the concrete as the base for a concrete overlay were very appealing."
"We're just thrilled," said Phyllis Arvizu with the Willcox Skate Park Committee.
"We're very pleased. We took the kids over there, and they like it so much better than the park."
"This saves us money," she added. "And the money we do have will go farther. At least it's a start."
Prior to the unanimous vote at the Jan. 19 meeting, Councilman Woody Johnson thanked Councilman Stephen Klump for the suggestion.
The old police station on West Maley Street was demolished in August 2009 by Mascot Homes and Construction of Willcox, which is owned by Klump.
In September 2007, the Willcox Skate Park Committee had presented the city with a check for $5,000.
Mitchell Rios, who was committee chairman at that time, told the council that the committee had done "a lot of work and met many of the criteria" set forth by the council.
"We were asked by the mayor and council to form a committee and it has been formed," he said.
"We have been in existence over a year and have raised some money."
After the check presentation, Councilwoman Monika Cronberg commended the members of the committee for all their work, knowing how hard it is to do.
"When something is earned it is truly valuable," she said.
Cronberg said at the time she was concerned that this has been a "talking point" with the council for more than a year.
"They were directed to go back and raise more money. How many will stay if they only accomplish one thing?" she said.
"What do we have to do to take that first step?"
Cronberg said she is concerned about citizens in need having their needs addressed by the council.
"They are young and have goals to be professional skaters and without a place to skate, they cannot proceed," said Cronberg.
"I am voicing my frustration because part of it has been accomplished, and as a city, we need to take step one to do what we have to do," she said at the time.
"The committee has worked in good faith, so we need to do that and work on step two and so on."
In July 2008, the city placed a sign at the Keiller Park parking lot off Fremont Street, designating the location for the proposed skate park.
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