Bids to add skatepark features rejected

SIKESTON -- Sikeston skaters will have to wait until next year for their city skatepark.

Following the recommendation of staff and the wishes of the Sikeston Skatepark Committee, City Council members rejected all bids for equipping the city skatepark during their special meeting Thursday.

Jiggs Moore, parks division director, said the city sent out six bid requests and received three proposals.

"The way we bid it, we said we had $15,000 to spend: What can you give us?" Moore said. "What they were able to offer for the money was pretty slim."

An 80-by-50-foot concrete pad was poured at the Sikeston Sports Complex southeast of the southeast softball field at the corner of Stephens and Campanella Drive in November. The Skate Committee had originally hoped to receive the park's features in April and have the park ready by May.

The total cost for the pad -- materials and labor -- was $9,000, leaving the Sikeston Skate Committee with only about $6,000, according to Cindy Taylor, president of the Sikeston Skatepark Committee.

Taylor said the Skatepark Committee did have additional funding pledged by a local businessman that they didn't receive.

"His business shut down and he never donated the $15,000 to help us," she said. They will now use their remaining money for fundraisers.

Taylor said spending only $15,000 on equipment for the skatepark would not get them enough features to attract the skaters.

"It would not keep Sikeston kids anywhere near happy or satisfied," she said. "You're not going to get the skaters off the streets, the private property and parking lots."

City Manager Doug Friend said his understanding is that the Skatepark Committee members hope the City Council will hold the skatepark's $15,000 from the current budget and add another $15,000 from the city's next fiscal year budget.