OWENSBORO, KY (WFIE) -
After months of research and testimony from skate boarders and BMX riders, the Owensboro Parks Advisory Board has recommended a site for the new skate park.
That location is the corner of 9th and Allen Street.
We now know where the park would likely be built and that it will be made of concrete. Now it all comes down to the city commission on if and when it will be built.
Why does Owensboro need a skate park?
"There's a lot of kids out here that have no fundamentals. Nothing to really play on or do anything on and that's why people are getting ridiculed for it," said Anthony Grubb who wants the skate park
"I want to go out and ride, but do I want to be hassled?" asked Zack Hatcher, a fan of the skate park.
"We're the only city of any size miles around that doesn't have a skate park," said Owensboro Mayor Ron Payne.
Park leaders say the skate park should be built at the corner of 9th and Allen Street.
"It's in the downtown area and I sense that a lot of the skate boarders are in this part of our city, so it makes it rather convenient for them," Mayor Payne said.
"I like it myself. It's a quiet area, like she said the closest house is like 400 feet away and it's going to keep us out of people's hair," Grubb said.
"I like the idea of it being next to the police department," Mayor Payne states.
Officials say the park would be fenced in with no staff. It'd be 24,000 square feet and would cost between $800,000 to $1.2 million to build depending on how many trick elements you put in.
"It's a reasonable amount of money to spend. We're in a strong financial position," Mayor Payne said.
"The money's already there. We've been waiting long enough. They need to go ahead and do it," Grubb said.
City staff will now do some research to look at how much a couple of options would cost for the park. They'll present that information to the commission on August 21.
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The recommended location is the corner of 9th and Allen Street.
