FORKS — Tillicum Park could have a skate park by the end of the year, if funding and contracts go as planned.
The Forks Session Association began planning the park about five years ago, said Dave Zellar, Forks public works director and association member.
The Forks City Council on Monday approved up to $16,000 to be spent out of small works money to go toward the project if the funds can’t be raised elsewhere.
So far, about $43,000 has been raised toward a $60,000 goal, Zellar said.
“We are really getting out there and making a push for the final amount,” he said.
The group has received grants and donations from community members and groups, as well as conducting various fundraisers — such as a recent bake sale which raised $900.
The group hopes to raise the remainder of the funds on its own, but asked the council to help if it is unable to meet the goal in time to bring in a contractor this year.
Zellar said he hopes the professional skate park building company Grind Line would be able to squeeze the Forks park into its schedule.
“They have a window in the next couple months, and then they are booked up for a whole year,” Zellar said.
Having that particular company build the park would place it within a network of parks that are regarded highly, he said.
