The City of Emporia is seeking feedback on its plan to expand a local skate park.
Residents are encouraged to submit their input through an online survey.
“The City of Emporia is now looking at opportunities to redesign and expand on the Skate Park amenities currently located in Santa Fe Park (South Ave & West St). While this park may see some improvements, expansion at this location is not an option,” the city announced in a Facebook post.
The survey, which can be found at emporiaks.gov/1470/Skate-Park-Survey, will help the city “develop a concept for future improvements at Whittier Park here in Emporia.”
Improvements to a skatepark in Emporia were first spurred by an anonymous $250,000 donation in 2021, after local teenager Maddox Gutierrez petitioned the city to do some work on the Lorenzo Delgado Sports Complex skateboard park, located in Santa Fe Park.
In December, the city shifted its focus from the Lorenzo Delgado Sports Complex skateboard park after it was discovered that the Santa Fe Railroad, which owns the property on which the skate park is located, would not extend a lease on the land beyond year-to-year consideration.
The city then identified Whittier Park, located at E. Ninth Avenue and Whittier Street, as a possible place to expand a skate park for the community.
Discussions about the skate park are ongoing, but City Manager Trey Cocking said in December that he hopes investments in a skate park may lead to continued improvements at Whittier Park.
(1) comment
The Skate Park needs to stay in its current location. This was the intent of the donation from the start. This is a poor disguised attempt, to once again, move development from the SW neighborhoods of Emporia. It has to stop. The concern is with the lease from BNSF. Phone calls to BNSF Community Beautification officials indicate they are always willing to cooperate with cities to keep their property in good repair and appearance. How much negotiation has actually been conducted? So, you're telling us Lorenzo Delgado ball fields and Las Casitas Park are in jeopardy too! Please share these details. The Santa Fe Park is a central location, Whittier is not! The people living in south Emporia deserve to have the park kept at Santa Fe!
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