A recent petition to build a skate-and-bike park in the City of Smithville reportedly garnered more than 200 signatures in one day’s time, according to Will and Martha Puckett, who appeared before the city council last week to ask that the mayor and aldermen consider building such a facility.
“I would like to present the idea of an outdoor recreation area for the City of Smithville," Will Puckett told the mayor and aldermen. “We would like an outdoor area to ride bicycles and a place to skate.”
A petition in favor of the park apparently met with a great deal of support.
“We got over 200 signatures in less than 24 hours,” he noted.
A recent near-miss while skating on a city street in front of his home apparently spurred the Puckett to action on the matter.
“Last Saturday, an event happened,” Will Puckett told the board. “Me and one of my good friends were skating on a road and a car actually swerved and almost hit me.”
Martha Puckett told the council that Walmart offers a community grant program that could pay as much as $20,000 toward the project.
“You can apply for the grants online at Walmart.com.” she said. “I used to work for Walmart and for community grants, they offer up to $20,000 depending on what it’s for. If money is an issue, we can do fundraisers. Walmart will let us set up a fundraiser outside of the store.”
She said biking and skating are prohibited in many areas inside the city limits, including the downtown area and Greenbrook Park.
"We want a place where they can play basketball outside, where you can skate or ride bicycles, roller blade or anything like that. We're not allowed to do that at the park. People have told me they want their children to have a place to go out and have fun and there's not that many places to do that,” she shared.
Alderman Gayla Hendrix encouraged the two, and urged the Puckett's to apply for the grant and get the process started.
“We have, as a board, been discussing applying for grants for other recreational facilities for the city so that would be a really good start. If you could start, we could brainstorm ideas for places, Hendrix told the Pucketts. “I think it’s a good idea. I think if you will apply for the grant and see where that leads, we may be able to help in the future.”
Mayor Jimmy Poss also voiced his approval of the idea.
“I would encourage you to get online and go for it,” Poss said. “We'll try to come up with some property somewhere.
“It’s a good idea, and I commend you guys for it, the mayor continued. “We are interested. You are not out on a limb by yourself. I’ve got grandchildren. They don’t skateboard yet, but I wouldn’t want anybody to say they couldn’t.”