GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE SKATE PARK

In a previous blog from about a month ago, I detailed the efforts of a group of Cannon Beach teenagers to raise more than $60,000 toward the construction of a new skate park on East 2nd. In the blog, I also explained the City's match, other in-kind donations, the hiring of a design-builder and efforts to secure a $120,000 state grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

These efforts included a trip to Bend on June 11th to give a presentation to the Advisory Committee responsible for recomending which Oregon local governments receive grants. There were a total of 40 applications totalling $11.5 million which averages out to $285,000 per request. Just $4.5 million was available for funding.

The presentation from the Cannon Beach contingent was 20 minutes long and included presentations from Lujac Desautel, Cole Willyard (both ages 15), Margo Lalich, Mike Berger and yours truly. The evaluation committee allowed a maximum total of 55 points for each application and decided not to award grants to any agency that scored lower than 37.

The highest score went to the City of Hood River who scored 47 out of 55. Cannon Beach scored 45. Out of the 40 grant applications, Cannon Beach ranked 5th and last week we were officially notified by OPRD that we were the recipients of $120,000 to build our skate park.

Special thanks and recognition needs to go to Lujac and Cole for their leadership activities in not only their excellent presentations in Bend, but also their accomplishment in raising most of the necessary match. Credit also goes to Margo and Mike and also Ed Johnson who represented the City's Parks Committee during this 3 year effort.