Added donation; Colorado businessman again contributes the skatepark.

A computer rendering of the original design of the James B. Tedesco Memorial Skatepark located parallel to U.S. Highway 69 between the Third and Sixth Street catwalks is shown. The Fort Scott Skatepark Committee recently received another donation that will help pay for some additions and improvements that were not budgeted in the original plan for the $90,000, 3,000-square-foot skatepark. Who Skates, a Kennebunkport, Maine-based company, is the general contractor.(Image courtesy of the Skatepark Committee)

The Fort Scott Skatepark Committee recently got another financial boost for the local venue now nearing completion.

An additional $7,000 donation has come from Colorado businessman Steve Tedesco, who also provided a $25,000 contribution earlier this year that helped the group reach its $100,000 goal to build the skatepark. The park will be located parallel to U.S. Highway 69 between the Third and Sixth Street catwalks.

Committee Co-Convenor Nate Lyons said the new money will be "put into the aesthetics of the park." Lyons said the park would have been completed based on its original plan and budget, but the committee saw a chance to make some needed changes.

Projects include lighting and some landscaping, as well as the addition of color to the concrete in the skatepark.

"Mr. Tedesco said if there was anything we needed, just ask," Lyons said. "We're real excited about the park. It's getting close to being finished. We stayed on budget with the park originally, but as we got a little closer, we saw an opportunity to put some color in the flatwork and also add some lighting to the park, which was not in the original budget as well."

Tedesco owns oil and gas exploration and production companies based in Centennial, Colo., that do work in Bourbon, Vernon and Linn counties. He has 15-18 employees in the area, which is how he heard about the skatepark project.

"I told them (the committee) if they needed more money to contact me," he said. "They will put some lights in so kids can go there at night."

Tedesco said he supports the project not because he has a passion for skateboarding, but because of its relatively low cost and because it will benefit both area youth and the town. He has seen several skateparks built in Colorado and thinks they reduce problems with skateboarding.

"I'm doing it both for the memory of my brother, but also because it does something to help the kids in the area," he said. "It's not very expensive to put together."

His $25,000 donation was made in the name of Steve's late brother, James B. Tedesco, for whom the skatepark is named.

Lyons said the city had salvaged light poles from the old municipal swimming pool and offered to allow the committee to use those for the skatepark, but the committee needs to upgrade the bulbs and light housing and purchase some of the materials.

"We had planned for landscaping, but wanted to add a little bit more," he said. "We asked him (Tedesco) and told him our plans."

Lyons added the lights are a "big deal" because they will allow for extended skating time during certain parts of the year and for skaters to practice the sport at night. He said the skatepark additions will be "something everyone can appreciate."

Tedesco said he viewed the skatepark about two weeks ago and "it looked really great." He said he would "seriously consider" contributing to another project in the area.

Tedesco plans to bring his family to a grand opening and dedication that Lyons said is currently scheduled to take place starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 7. He said rain each day this week has set the project back "a little bit."

That event is expected to include music, giveaways of skate decks and helmets, some skate contests and appearances by some professional skaters who are "coming down to check out the park," Lyons said.

"We're still confirming, but we should have at least one or two," he said. "It will be a community event. We hope a lot of people come out."

Assistant City Manager Susan Brown told the Fort Scott City Commission about the recent donation during their Tuesday meeting.