Columbia Falls skatepark makes it through LWCF screening

The Columbia Falls Skatepark has made it through initial screening for a Land, Water and Conservation Fund grant, city manager Susan Nicosia told council last week.

Nicosia cautioned, however, that funding requests are usually millions more than what is allotted each year.

LWCF is a federal program that uses revenue from off shore oil and gas leases to fund conservation and parks projects across the U.S.

The city, along with the Badrock Skatepark Association is requesting about $415,000 for the park, which would include a bathroom. The city has already committed about $15,000 toward a bathroom.

The association, in turn, has already raised more than $300,000 toward the park, most of which is a private donation through a family foundation.

It also continues to raise funds and recently had a concert fundraiser at the Coop which was well attended.

The association hopes to break ground on the park next summer. Once it’s completed, the city will take ownership of the facility.

If the LWCF grant doesn’t go through, the association will likely go ahead with the project, though start at a smaller scale, Matt Halloway of the association said in an email.

Still, the grant would be great in closing the funding gap, he noted.

Association volunteers along with the city cleared the site in Fenholt Park earlier this year.

Skateboarders in Columbia Falls have been hoping for a park for years — the city council last summer approved the park amidst broad support by the community.