Several local and longtime skaters attended the meeting and will be consulted on planning the elements as the plans move forward.

Simeon said before the meeting the first part of the plan, and the reason for the meeting, was to get the plans under way. The second part will be to meet with special use groups to decide what elements need to be purchased. “We're working with the advisory board to come up with policies and rules. I envision this to be similar to tennis court usage.”

Thus far the city has been pledged $19,000 from citizens and businesses for the project, an increase since Simeon first discussed the matter with city council last week. “We would like to see $25,000 or more,” he said.

During the meeting he told the advisory committee the city has been talking about a skate park for skateboarders and BMX riders since the 1990s and it was one of the top needs discussed at recent recreation master plans meetings throughout the county.

The plans, he said, are to use the 85-feet by 85-feet sand volleyball court and pour concrete over it as the base. The concrete is estimated to cost $9,000 while the elements are estimated to cost around $10,000. The facility would be open during the times T.J. Davis and the aquatic center are open, he said.

While he could not be at the meeting, Simeon told the advisory committee that its chairman, Ed Liverman, fully supports the project, as does committee member Todd Lockaman.

Simeon said the sand volleyball court never took off. “There is adequate parking and restrooms. It would make a nice spot to put this in. It has lighting capabilities. We'd like to see competitions here. It would be nice for the people in Roanoke Rapids to have an opportunity like this.”

More details on plan should be forthcoming at the advisory committee's next meeting, which is scheduled September 4 at 5:30 p.m. at T.J. Davis. “We should have a better dollar figure.”

He hopes to be able to begin discussing the elements with the seasoned skaters and younger users in the next couple of months.

“We're excited. We're all excited,” said longtime skateboarder Daniel McElwee. “I've got two kids and am trying to get them into skating.”

McElwee said consulting with the veteran skaters can help the city build a quality facility. “We don't want the city's money to be wasted.”

What the skaters want is an area that flows effortlessly with ramps and rails, and center elements called pyramids.

“It's always something I wanted,” said Josh Ferguson. “When they started talking about it, I got excited. We'd like to have a park where the kids will come out and skate.”