When Margot Fosnes served as Treasurer of Springfield First United Methodist Church, skateboarders who liked to use the ramps and sidewalks around the church would routinely be shooed away.

Later, she would witness businesses near her office at the Robertson County Chamber of Commerce take the same tact when skateboarders would enter the area.

“I always felt so bad because there really wasn’t anywhere else for them to enjoy skateboarding in town,” says Margot, who’s now retired after leading the Chamber as its President and Chief Economic Development Officer. “I was thinking, ‘Where are they supposed to go?’ They deserved a place to play, too.”

It stirred her to take action.

As a board member and Secretary of the Springfield Kiwanis Club, Margot pitched the idea of building a skatepark in town. The club was looking for a signature project that would make a positive impact on kids in the community. The board agreed to pledge $50,000 and seek out partners to join them in the project.

Almost 10 years later, some $150,000 – including an anonymous $50,000 challenge grant and a $15,000 grant from skateboard legend Tony Hawk’s The Skatepark Project – has been raised and the idea is becoming reality. Springfield Skatepark broke ground in December at Garner Street Park and, weather permitting, will be ready for skateboarders to test their skills in March.

The 6,000-square-foot, all-concrete skatepark, professionally designed and constructed by Indiana-based Hunger Skateparks, is the culmination of a partnership between Springfield Kiwanis and the City of Springfield’s Parks and Recreation Department. The department’s director, Terry Martin, knew Garner Street Park would be a perfect site and obtained buy-in from the city to provide matching funds for the project.

“The skatepark would have never happened without the fundraising from the Springfield Kiwanis Club,” Terry says. “It’s just another example of a great project coming to life because of the citizens and the City of Springfield working together to make our town great!”

Terry adds that the area of Garner Street Park where the skatepark will be located was a t-ball field that is no longer being used.

“It will be so neat to see that area now being packed with kids who now have a place to go skateboarding,” he says.

Another valuable partner in the development of the skatepark has been Adam Heffner, a skateboard enthusiast and CEO of Springfield-based Maker Table Metal.

“Adam has been wonderful,” Margot says. “He’s donated all the metal being fabricated for the railings, and he’s building a sculpture that’s going to be such a unique feature. He was instrumental in getting us in touch with Hunger Skateparks, too. They came down, looked at the site and said they could build a nice skatepark within our budget.”

Springfield Skatepark is part of the city’s overall revitalization of Garner Street Park. In addition, a new playground is being constructed to replace the more than 20-year-old playground that was in place. Other amenities such as a dog park and pickleball courts are also available.

“I think the skatepark is a perfect addition to our city,” says Springfield Kiwanis Club President Mike Norton. “Our club is all about helping kids, and having something they can enjoy in one of our local parks ties right into that. We’re excited about partnering with the city on the skatepark and when it gets completed, it will be turned over to them.”

Area skateboarders, rejoice – your days of being “shooed” will soon be a thing of the past!

Margot adds there are still some in-kind needs and a desire to have additional funding for expansion. If you would like to donate, please visit the GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/765d37c0.