Skatepark needs boost to get over funding hump
ZELIENOPLE — Since ground was broken earlier this summer, work has been fast and furious at the Zelienople Memorial Skatepark, with crews expected to complete the job soon.
As the decade-long project draws to a close, officials said Monday they face a potential funding shortfall, and appealed to borough council for help.
The idea for the park stemmed from a senior project by Trevor Barkley, who along with friends Sam Bucci and Elijah Lunsford died in a vehicle accident in 2010. Barkley's family took over the project as a memorial for the boys, securing a $200,000 grant from the state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as well as $10,000 from the Tony Hawk Foundation.
The remainder of the money has been raised through community donations. The project had a goal of about $650,000, with a 2020 deadline to complete the work following DCNR grant rules.
On Monday, Amy Barkley told council work should be completed by the end of November, well before that deadline. However, she said there is a deficit of about $69,000. Some of that amount is contingency, meaning the number could be lower.
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