MONROE - Honey Creek Skatepark is still covered in snow, but its enthusiasts are feeling the heat to get its second phase completed this spring.
"The community is being watched," said Donna Douglas, an adult member of the Monroe Area Skateboard Enthusiasts (MASE). "They are interested in how we have achieved what we have."
Douglas said she has been approached by people from Darlington with questions about how they might get a park started in their community.
"And it isn't just young people," she said. "One man is 85 years old."
Tom Miller, spokesman for the MASE group, said he has received the same inquiries from people in Durand and Orangeville, Ill., and in northern Wisconsin.
But for kids in Monroe, Miller is most excited about the Freeport Park District's initial interest in working with other area cities to form a Stateline Extreme Sports Circuit, with traveling skate meets throughout the summer. MASE members say meets in Monroe could draw visitors to the city, perhaps even overnight.
But they are worried that the Monroe Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners and the city want to settle for having the skateboard park less than acceptable for regional competitions.
"This is (like) the wading pool," said MASE member Jim Connors, referring to the present park. "Now we want the deep end."
The skatepark project is in its ninth year. Miller is pleased with the accomplishments MASE and the city have made in the last two years.
"Community skateparks average about seven years to get established," he said. "We didn't get land until (January) 2005. And what's out there now has been paid for."
The city and community businesses have been generous with contributions when they have been asked, Miller said.
"Badger State's $10,000 pretty much paid for the equipment that's out there now," he said.
Fundraisers are being vigilant and available grant money is helping pay for the rest.
MASE has written or submitted about five grants to offset the remaining $30,000 to $35,000 they need to put the park at a competitive level. Alliant Energy, the Monroe Fund, Farm Tech Days, American Ramp Company and Hamburger Helper all have grants that could amount to as much as $15,000 for the group.
But those grants may not be received in time for the purchase orders scheduled for the first part of April.
Miller plans to meet with the Monroe Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners and the City Council next Wednesday to ask the city to approve and make the purchases anyway - in effect, to front them the money.
"We're going to ask the city to work with us in order to get the money," Miller said.
The equipment needs to be ordered by April 1, in order to get it delivered and installed by the end of May, the start of the summer season.
"The community is being watched," said Donna Douglas, an adult member of the Monroe Area Skateboard Enthusiasts (MASE). "They are interested in how we have achieved what we have."
Douglas said she has been approached by people from Darlington with questions about how they might get a park started in their community.
"And it isn't just young people," she said. "One man is 85 years old."
Tom Miller, spokesman for the MASE group, said he has received the same inquiries from people in Durand and Orangeville, Ill., and in northern Wisconsin.
But for kids in Monroe, Miller is most excited about the Freeport Park District's initial interest in working with other area cities to form a Stateline Extreme Sports Circuit, with traveling skate meets throughout the summer. MASE members say meets in Monroe could draw visitors to the city, perhaps even overnight.
But they are worried that the Monroe Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners and the city want to settle for having the skateboard park less than acceptable for regional competitions.
"This is (like) the wading pool," said MASE member Jim Connors, referring to the present park. "Now we want the deep end."
The skatepark project is in its ninth year. Miller is pleased with the accomplishments MASE and the city have made in the last two years.
"Community skateparks average about seven years to get established," he said. "We didn't get land until (January) 2005. And what's out there now has been paid for."
The city and community businesses have been generous with contributions when they have been asked, Miller said.
"Badger State's $10,000 pretty much paid for the equipment that's out there now," he said.
Fundraisers are being vigilant and available grant money is helping pay for the rest.
MASE has written or submitted about five grants to offset the remaining $30,000 to $35,000 they need to put the park at a competitive level. Alliant Energy, the Monroe Fund, Farm Tech Days, American Ramp Company and Hamburger Helper all have grants that could amount to as much as $15,000 for the group.
But those grants may not be received in time for the purchase orders scheduled for the first part of April.
Miller plans to meet with the Monroe Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners and the City Council next Wednesday to ask the city to approve and make the purchases anyway - in effect, to front them the money.
"We're going to ask the city to work with us in order to get the money," Miller said.
The equipment needs to be ordered by April 1, in order to get it delivered and installed by the end of May, the start of the summer season.