Jamestown Parks to host public meeting on proposed skate park

Jamestown Parks and Recreation is inviting community members to a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, at The Bunker, 1520 3rd St. SE, to discuss plans for a future skate park. The session is open to anyone interested in learning more or willing to help move the project forward, and organizers are asking attendees to RSVP to office@jamestownparksandrec.com.

Officials say the meeting will serve as an early planning and outreach session aimed at gathering neighborhood priorities and volunteers. Residents who cannot attend but want to remain involved are asked to send their email addresses to office@jamestownparksandrec.com to receive future meeting invites and communications. By building a list of interested citizens, Parks and Recreation officials can demonstrate public interest and broaden participation in design, fundraising and site selection discussions.

A community-led planning process for a recreational facility like a skate park has multiple implications for local governance and budgets. The project would likely require coordination among Jamestown Parks and Recreation, City Council and potentially Stutsman County officials for land use, permitting and maintenance responsibilities. Funding options commonly considered at this stage include municipal capital allocations, targeted grant applications, private donations and community fundraising. Residents attending the Jan. 28 meeting can expect to hear about potential timelines, volunteer roles and next steps for securing financial and logistical support.

For local voters and taxpayers, the discussion matters because decisions about public recreation space shape annual budgets, programming priorities and long-term maintenance obligations. A transparent planning process gives citizens the opportunity to weigh location impacts, safety considerations and accessibility for skaters across age groups. It also allows nearby property owners to express concerns about noise, parking and stewardship before any formal proposals reach elected bodies for approval.

Beyond fiscal questions, a skate park can be a venue for youth engagement, healthy activity and small-scale economic activity near parks and downtown venues. Community input at this early stage can influence whether the facility emphasizes street-style features, a bowl, beginner-friendly elements or inclusive design that serves multiple user groups.

Jamestown residents who want to participate should RSVP to office@jamestownparksandrec.com and, if unable to attend, send their email to that address to be added to future updates. The Jan. 28 meeting is the next concrete step in a process that will involve technical planning, funding decisions and public oversight; community involvement now can steer those outcomes and ensure accountable use of public resources.