Three years after completion of the first phase of Marietta's skate park, the project's second phase-a "street course" from the concrete bowl to the Indian Acres parking lot-is finally under way.
However, the project's on a tight timeline as a state grant that will pay more than half of the cost expires on Dec. 31.
The street course project, estimated to cost around $55,000, will include a paved concrete walkway with benches, ramps and other skateboarding obstacles.
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SAM SHAWVER The Marietta Times
Marietta worker Adam Murphy does some final concrete touch-up Monday on a new Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalk being installed during the second phase of the skate park project at Indian Acres Park.
"The bid opening for the second phase is Oct. 30, but by the time the notice to proceed is issued, the contractor may only have a month to do the work before the end of the year. So we're currently in the process of trying to get an extension on the grant," said Jarrod Schultheisz with the city engineer's office.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Nature Works Grant, awarded during the first half of 2011, totals $34,562.
City crews are finishing work this week on an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalk that will connect the skate park's concrete bowl to an existing sidewalk near the restrooms at Indian Acres Park.
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Update
Second phase funding for Marietta's skate park at Indian Acres:
$34,562-Ohio Department of Natural Resources Nature Works Grant.
$16,104-Carryover from the 2011 Community Development Block Grant earmarked for the skate park.
$5,000-Transferred to skate park project from 2012 CDBG sidewalk repair program.
$1,500-Contribution from local Skaters United group.
Also in-kind work by the city to install an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalk at the skate park. The in-kind work can be used as the city's match for the ODNR grant.
That work will be counted as in-kind services to help cover the city's match for the ODNR grant.
Andy Coleman, the city's development director, said the state grant was originally awarded to be used between July 2011 to July 2012, but previous development director Mike Stocky had secured a six-month extension through Dec. 31.
"The DNR officials seemed receptive to an extension, although they didn't commit to it," Coleman said. "We'll have to submit a formal application to extend the time frame and that will require approval through legislation from council's lands, buildings and parks committee."
In addition to the ODNR grant, funding for the second phase will come through a $16,401 carryover from the city's 2011 Community Development Block Grant entitlement and $5,000 from the 2012 CDBG.
"That $5,000 was moved out of the 4th Ward sidewalk repair program to the skate park project to help cover any contingency costs," Coleman said.
The sidewalk repair program funding was set aside in the annual CDBG budget to help property owners within the city pay for repairs to municipal sidewalks that run across their properties. The owner would pay a portion of the cost, and part of the CDBG funding would be available in grant form to defray the remaining repair cost.
The funding was not being used, so council transferred the money to the skate park project.
Another $1,500 for the skate park is being contributed by the local Skaters United group.
"We've been talking to contractors, and they've said the skate park work could be done by the end of the year, but just in case the weather turns bad and they can't complete the project we would like to have the grant extension in place," Schultheisz said.
The first phase of the skate park project was completed in late 2009 at a cost of more than $119,000, which came through state and private grant funding, as well as contributions from Skaters United.
The initial phase consisted of a concrete "flow bowl," tubular coping or "grind rail" and a cradle.
