Wednesday, April 7, 2004

Ketchum to build
new skate park

Council approves financing
for $253,000 project

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"Under the current construction climate and the current financing climate, now is the time to borrow."

— RON LABLANC, City administrator

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By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

Under a city plan approved this week, Ketchum residents later this year will have access to a new state-of-the-art skateboard park.

Ketchum City Council members on Monday, April 5, endorsed a plan to help finance a proposed $253,000 reconstruction of the city’s Guy Coles Skate Park.

In a 3-1 vote, the council approved a resolution authorizing the city to assume a five-year, $150,000 loan that could—with interest—ultimately cost taxpayers $165,000.

Council President Randy Hall voted against the plan. He said he is in favor of building a new park this summer but does not want the city to finance the project with a short-term loan.

"I think we should find the money in the budget," he said.

Councilman Baird Gourlay said he believes the 3.3 percent interest rate on the loan is so low that the cost of financing construction of the park this year would be less than delaying the project until next year—when the funding could be directly allocated through the budget.

"Fiscally, I think we’re being very responsible," Gourlay said.

Ketchum Parks and Recreation Director Kirk Mason on March 1 first proposed a new park that includes two concrete bowl features, one with an hourglass shape and another with an irregular-square shape.

Mason has arranged to contract with Oregon-based Dreamland Skateparks—which participated in the design—to manage construction of the facility.

With the financing now in place, Dreamland Skateparks will likely be scheduled to start construction in May. The project is estimated to take six weeks to complete.

Additional funding for the project is expected to come from an ad-hoc group of project supporters. Two separate skate park funds have to date raised a cumulative total of $29,000 for the project.

In addition, City Administrator Ron LeBlanc has noted $25,000 could come from a fund originally slated in the 2003-2004 budget for a new Ketchum teen center.

LeBlanc said the timing is right for the project.

"Under the current construction climate and the current financing climate, now is the time to borrow," he said.

Guy Coles Skate Park is located at the intersection of Warm Springs and Saddle roads. The seasonal facility is currently composed of temporary structures and features, some of which will be moved to an alternate location during construction of the new park.

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