Ortonville- The Village Skate Park closes for the season Oct. 30. Now, let the fundraising begin.
The skate park has been open for only two hours per day for several weeks after a myriad of problems, including profanity, indecent exposure, and other complaints from neighbors of the park. A Skate Park Committee that has been investigating solutions has concluded the best option for solving the problems is raising the current chainlink fence to 10 feet and installing a 10-foot concrete wall between the park and the next-door neighbor.
‘That will curb the noise problem and the visuals,? said Kay Green, chair of the committee.
However, the combined cost of the wall and fences is $17,000. To pay for the improvements, the committee said fundraisers are needed and they are seeking help from the skateboarders who use the park, as well as their parents. A meeting to discuss fundraising for the park will be at 7 p.m., Nov. 6, at the Old Town Hall, 480 Mill St.
‘The committee would appreciate skateboarders and their parents coming to discuss ways to raise funds for the park so it can stay open and be accessible to all who want to use it,? said Karen Buda, committee member.
Green told the village council at their Oct. 22 meeting that suggested fundraisers include dinners, silent auctions, garage sales, a euchre night, bingo, a booth at Christmas in the Village, a golf outing, cookie sales, skate-a-thons and more.
‘We’re aiming for next spring to start on the fence,? said Green. ‘As soon as we can come up with the money, the better it will be.?