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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According to Plaza, the 15,000-square-foot skate park, which will be located in the northeast corner of the City Hall/Police Department parking lot along Hall Boulevard, is estimated to cost $426,300.

“The city originally budgeted $335,502 from the park SDC (system development charges) fund, $50,798 from the general fund and $40,000 in donations to finance the park,” Plaza said in his memo to the council.

“Since this time, donations have increased. If the council accepts this grant, park SDC funding will be reduced by $109,202, and no general fund monies will be used.”

According to Plaza, with the funding in place, the skate park should be through the city’s permit process in about 30 days, and construction can start this fall or winter “with the opening next summer.”

Dirksen noted that at the grand opening, all of the park’s many contributors will be thanked.

“But right now, it’s time to recognize the longevity of the effort and the tenacity of all involved,” he said. “They stuck with it to the end, and some of them aren’t so young anymore. One of the goals of this council is to include youth more. I would just applaud everybody who has seen it through to this point.

“The council made the decision to fully fund it this year, but we still applied for the grant. The fact that we received it this year takes a burden off the city and leaves us other park money to spend elsewhere. This will be a great facility for the city and the youth of the city.”

At the meeting, youngsters Michael Gant and Chas Caldwell appeared with Plaza, who gave them credit for making the presentation in Salem for the grant.

“I felt really humble,” he said. “These two young men carried the ball.”

The park will be named the Jim Griffith Memorial Skate Park.

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