By Allison Jarrell
Following an August 2015 approval of a skatepark location, momentum is once again moving forward for South County skateboarders. The San Juan Capistrano City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday to allocate $25,000 from the parks in lieu fund to issue a Request for Proposals for an initial design concept for a skatepark at the city’s Sports Park.
The topic was brought back before the council April 19 by Mayor Pro Tem Kerry Ferguson, who asked her fellow council members to consider funding the design concept with the goal of approving the initial design this summer. Ferguson wrote in her report that “a design created to the city’s specifications and approved by the City Council will give confidence to potential donors, including the City of Dana Point, that they will be donating to a demonstrable program.”
“This action will support one of the non-programmed goals from our list of strategic priorities with minimum staff time and investment so that an already organized nonprofit group known as Capistrano Grind can take the lead in acquiring funds for construction,” Ferguson said.
The council voted, with Councilman Derek Reeve dissenting, to approve the funding, have the RFPs due by the end of May, and create a subcommittee consisting of Ferguson and Parks, Recreation, Senior & Youth Services Commissioner Gerald Muir, in order to work more closer with city staff, youth groups and skatepark organizers.
According to organizers, Capistrano Grind is tasked with raising $1 million to fund the construction of the skatepark. For more information on how to contribute to the project, email Nathan Banda at nathan@capistranogrindskatepark.com.
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