Some skaters at a meeting this evening said there needed to be some revisions made in the elements but one who has served as liaison between skateboarders and the city was pleased overall.

“I'm pretty happy with it,” said local skateboarder Daniel McElwee, who says the proposed layout fits his love of street skating. “It could use some more ramps.”

Roanoke Rapids Parks and Recreation Director John Simeon said he would take the advice of the skaters and send it back to the person who came up with the initial design that was presented this evening.

The skaters who requested changes are concerned with the flow of the proposed park as well the height of some of the elements.

Some of the features drawn in to the elements, Simeon said, are those that reflect places skateboarders in the city like to use or used have used in the past. “We wanted to try to make a skate park that was about Roanoke Rapids.”

McElwee said two of the elements pay homage to the old benches from PNC Bank, which have been removed. The other two pay homage to the front steps of Kirkwood Adams as well as the loading dock of the civic center.

Thus far, Simeon said, $23,500 has been collected through donations and sponsors while another $2,500 has been pledged.