Tigard’s skate park a go — finally

After five years, the Jim Griffith Memorial Skate Park is fully funded

By Barbara Sherman

The Times, Sep 14, 2006, Updated Oct 30, 2009

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TIGARD — “Go forth and build,” Tigard Mayor Craig Dirksen told skate park organizers Tuesday after the City Council voted unanimously to accept $150,000 in matching funds to finally get the long-anticipated project underway.

There were high-fives all around when Skate Park Task Force Chairman Rich Carlson and several youngsters in attendance heard the council’s 4-0 vote.

Carlson told the council that about $70,000 has been raised, thanks to generous donations by local residents and business people.

“There were a number of local people behind it,” he said. “There were a lot of people out there donating money because they believe in this thing. It’s impressive the way people stepped up to the plate — and they did it over a long period of time.”

Five long years, to be exact.

Tigard Parks Manager Dan Plaza explained that at this time of year in 2001, former Mayor Jim Griffith created the Skate Park Task Force, “and we were off and running.”

“We didn’t think it would be five years,” he added.

A grant application last year was denied in part because local matching funds were soft.

In March the city applied for an Oregon Parks and Recreation Department/State of Oregon Lottery Local Government Grant, and the city was recently notified that the grant was awarded, providing $150,000 in matching funds for skate park construction.

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