Rolling forward: Phase 1 funding complete for skate park renovations

MOSES LAKE — The Rotary Club of Moses Lake recently completed Phase 1 funding for improvements to the skate park in downtown Moses Lake, surpassing a goal of $125,000 and finishing with about $141,000.

Steve Ausere, president of the club, said plans were split into two phases. The first phase involves adding LED lighting for the park; currently, the area is lit only by street lights near the park. Phase 1 will also see the park expand, replacing a small grassy section with concrete and skate-able features and hopefully expanding a little into the parking lot, Ausere said. The second phase will involve converting the park’s metal skate features to more modern concrete features.

For Ausere, being able to complete funding for this project during the COVID-19 pandemic felt good.

“How the community stepped up and decided this was something they wanted to do for the kids and to actually make it happen during COVID was great,” Ausere said. “When COVID hit, I wasn’t sure it would happen, but the community stepping up and making it happen was a huge blessing, and I’m really quite proud of the community.”

A golf tournament sponsored by the Kiwanis and Rotary clubs helped kick off fundraising. Ausere said if it were not for Kiwanis playing a big part in that event, the project might not have a chance to be completed.

After a series of donations from local organizations, funding leaped forward with a $63,500 grant from the Paul Lauzier Charitable Trust. Ausere said if it weren’t for the donations they’d received before the Lauzier grant came in, the grant may not have been possible.

“If it wasn’t for Kiwanis Club, if it wasn’t for Samaritan, Confluence, Inland Tarp – that gave us the ability to get the large donation from the Lauzier grant,” Ausere said.

Grindline Skateparks Inc., of Seattle, is drafting plans for phase one renovations to the park. Construction may begin in the fall. Ausere said he hoped by delaying the project until fall, it would give local skaters the rest of the summer without having to worry about any construction delays.

Pat Hochstatter, with Hochstatter Electric, Heating and Air in Moses Lake, will install new LED lighting for the park.

Phase 2 has been turned over entirely to the city of Moses Lake, with any further progress and renovations left up to the city. Ausere spoke with the city council last week about where the club was on the project. The Rotary Club’s focus was on completing the first phase of the project, he said.

Below is a list of organizations that contributed to the project supplied by Ausere.

Paul Lauzier Charitable Trust — $63,500

Samaritan Healthcare — $15,000

Wenatchee Valley Medical Group — $15,000

Rotary & Kiwanis Golf Tournament — $13,666.95

Rotary Auction, Fund-A-Cause — $11,200

Anonymous donation — $10,000

The Rotary Foundation — $6,767

Northwest Farm Credit — $1,500

Dave & Becky Thomas — $1,500

GoFundMe donors — $1,249.57

Moses Lake Industries — $1,000

Inland Tarp & Supply — $500

Moses Lake Community Health Center — $500

Total — $141,383.52