BCSA makes strides toward skatepark

The Boundary County Skatepark Alliance continues to make strides toward a community skatepark.

Key among that was a donation from supporter Laura Kitchen, who ran into BCSA officials at a recent event. After a conversation, Kitchen turned to them and said she wanted to donate.

"It was unsolicited and unexpected," BCSA officials said, adding that Kitchen told them she just wanted to get the park built for the community's youth.

That donation brought the alliance to within $3,000 of its $10,000 goal.

The aim is to reach that goal by Christmas.

With $10,000, the alliance can work with a skatepark building company to work with BCSA to create a design for the park. With design in hand, the alliance can then nail down what it will cost to build the park. Initial estimates place the cost at an estimated $500,000 to build a 10,000-square-foot park.

"We also know that we can’t make that kind of money using local raffles and friendly donations," BCSA officials said. "But, like so many other successful new parks in Idaho and Montana, we can get donations from large corporations, foundations and other grantors. To do that we need a hard funding target and a set of drawings to back it up."

Christmas makes an ideal target for the goal as winter is the ideal time for focusing on the business side of things, BCSA officials said.

"By next skate season we can dial in and finish the design, then enlist help in writing grants and pitching to those donors," officials said. "Experts say it can take two to five years to build a skatepark, and right now, if we can make this goal by Christmas, it looks like we could finish in about that time frame."

BCSA said alliance members and supporters will be selling raffle tickets around the community before Thanksgiving, and may even see some donation jars popping up around town during the holidays.

"While times are tough, this park will benefit the local economy, first as a construction project and as a beautification project for the current skatepark area, but also after completion by bringing families to the park and downtown businesses," they said in asking for the community's support. "But of course, it’s always been about the kids of Bonners Ferry, and a concrete park will serve them for decades."

Information: boundarycountyskateparkalliance.org