“We had a great meeting,” Roanoke Rapids Parks and Recreation Director John Simeon said this afternoon. “We had some new people show up, we got commitments to try to raise more funds.”

Young children, parents and older skaters wanting to see the park come through attended. “We continue to seek sponsors and donations through September 1. Public works will research some of the concrete requests made for the park,” he said.

Another meeting is planned in about four weeks. Input from those attending indicated they wanted to see the park a little bigger. “They want to concentrate on fundraising for elements. They made requests for certain elements in transition for the flow of the park from one element to the other and what they did not want. It was a good mix of younger kids, parents and older riders.”

The city now has a commitment for half the concrete needed for the park as well as commitments for $20,500.

“The group finished the meeting with going to see the site. That added valuable insight to what they would like to see,” Simeon said. “I was very impressed with the commitment shown from all the members at the meeting.”