A Dream Is On It's Way To Become A Reality
GRAYLING, MI -- Kids just want to have fun, but sometimes, fun costs money.
A group of kids in Grayling have been working hard to raise that money for a skate park in their hometown.
What was once a dream is very close to becoming a reality.
In the winter, the concrete here is glazed with a layer of water, and this is the place to be for ice skating. In the summer, it sits vacant and empty.
"I just would like to have a place where we can just go there and not have any problems or anything," said skater Trey Townsend.
Townsend says why not use the perfect place for another type of skating--skate-boarding. His mission started at age 16, and now at 21, a skate park is becoming a reality. He says there's no place for skateboarders or BMX bikers to ride in town, and the constant run-ins with police and mad business owners could easily be remedied, with a place to do it legally.
"This community needs a bright spot, this is something they've looked to get accomplished for a while now," said Grayling Parks and Recreation Board Member Ben Chouinard.
Townsend agrees, and it's been the work of one can-drive and hot-dog roast at a time.
It's really been the kids, and their vision for a skate park, that have made this project possible. They've raised just under $2,000 for the equipment, and the City of Grayling plans to help out with $7,000.
"This gives, not only the community, but the youth, an ownership of the project, and they'll feel like they have a part of it, and it's theirs to use," said Chouinard.
Mike Shearer has been working on the project and says it's necessary. He says there's places for the more mainstream sports, like football or baseball, and this park will fill a void.
"This will be their facility, it's going to be up to them to maintain it, to make sure things are going good, to make sure it's clean, if they want more equipment, well go out and raise some more money, said Shearer."
"Some place where they can go, and get away from everything, have space of their own, and have no run-ins anymore," said Townsend.
With more support from a few more businesses and a couple more grants coming through, The Grayling Parks and Rec Board is planning to open the park by the end of the school year.
