More changes are coming to Griffin Park.
Tonight, at the request of the Pierre Parks and Recreation Board, the Pierre City Commission took action to surplus the skate park equipment that sits just south of the new outdoor pool site. The plan is to surplus the old equipment, replace the equipment with new and improved pieces, and relocate the skate park.
City Parks and Recreation Director Tom Farnsworth says that the new pool construction is the impetus behind the move.
“The pool footprint will be larger than that of the old pool,” said Farnsworth. “To develop the outdoor pool the community asked for, we have to move the skate park.”
Though, Farnsworth says that the park isn’t going far. It will remain in Griffin Park and relocate just to the east of the current site on the other side of Capital Creek
“The skate park was starting to show its age. So, we’re taking the relocation as an opportunity to make some upgrades.”
If all goes according to plan, the new park will be approximately the same size as the old park and include new concrete, half pipes, quarter pipes, bank ramps, a grind ledge, jump boxes and more.
Tonight, the commission also approved the request to purchase the skate park equipment and bid the concrete. The concrete work is scheduled for advertisement on May 29 with a bid opening scheduled for June 10.
The city plans to start demolishing the old park as soon as the surplus materials are gone.
“The skate park will go away in the very near term,” said Farnsworth. “If contractors and supplies are readily available, we plan to have the old park replaced with the new one yet this year.”