With Olympian Poe Pinson in attendance, the city's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAC) enthusiastically endorsed plans to build a new $1.2 million skate park at Main Beach.
Last week, the city commission committed $90,000 in the proposed 2024-2025 budget for the design and construction drawings for the skate complex at Main Beach.
"It's (the skate park) is kind of a sacred place," Pinson told the committee. "It's crazy how one piece of wood basically can bring so many people together. For some people it's a sport. For some people it's a social connection. For some it's a means of transportation. For me it's all of the above. Skating for me has taught me so much and brought me to so many places."
Pinson said training for the Paris Olympics would have easier if the city's skate park was all inclusive for performing all the tricks required to compete at a high level. She had to go to Jacksonville to practice 'rail' tricks, she said.
She said skating is life changing and would like "to expand the (skate park) love to everyone. It's very important to have room for the youth."
The meeting room was filled with parents, kids and skateboard supporters. Ten people spoke in support of the project and what the Main Beach Skate Park has meant to them.
Board Chairman Tom Camera said "folks you just saw a community in action. Supporting this skate park is not just for one group, but it's for a community, and a community is what we live in. I'm just glad this group, PRAC, is going to support you all the way."
PRAC member Wally Waldemar said Friends of Fernandina Skate Park had been trying to get the city to improve the skate park for over 10 years.
"The skate park is the canvas, and the kids are the artists," Waldemar said. "What you (Pinson) did on the world stage, in Paris, has set in motion a tsunami that's not going to end right now. It's going to continue."
Mike Nichols of Friends of Fernandina Skate Park presented the board with an outline of the proposed skate park upgrade and expansion.
Phase one would be 15,000 square feet concrete complex estimated at $1,125,000 to build. Phase 2 would be 2,900 square feet of specialty builds costing about $135,000.
"We're not asking to expand the skate park. We're asking for a new skate park. It would be a skate park that would use the existing skate park and adjacent property to the north," Nichols said. "Fernandina Beach has the great opportunity to do something very special. It would be family orientated and inclusive and something we can proudly name after our Olympian Poe Pinson. Let's do this."
One hurdle for the skate park concept to clear is funding.
Supporters are hoping the city could tap into its Parks and Recreation impact fee fund to pay for the complex. But guidelines on the use of impact fees usually is restricted for new parks or facilities.
PRAC member Sheilia Cocchi suggested partnering with others to help finance the skate park.
"What can the city contribute? Can we work with the county to see if they would be willing contribute to be part of it too. Also, Friends of Fernandina Skate Park hold fundraisers," Cocchi said. "What I don't want to see the momentum and this celebration of Poe's success. I don't want to see this kicked down the road and I don't want to see it not become a reality."
Parks and Recreation Director Scott Mikelson told the board that some impact fees might be eligible to be used, and other financing would come out of the Parks Department budget. He said the next step is that once the 2024-2025 city budget is approved, the skate park design work could begin.
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