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MARQUETTE -- For nearly two years, the Marquette Area Skate Plaza Committee has been working with the City of Marquette to build a new skate park.

"I was ready to quit, but these kids have hung in there," said chairman Andrew Smentkowski of the Marquette Area Skate Plaza Committee.

"As long as we get a place to have it, I'm happy," stated skateboarder Tyler Duer.

The skate plaza will be located near the city-owned Lakeview Arena.  It's not exactly where the Skate Plaza Committee wanted to break ground, but they're relieved to finally have a place to call home, especially after concerns were raised about the level of noise coming from the park.

"I think Lakeview will work," Smentkowski said.  "Our site is designed to be quiet.  We're not going to have ramps; it will be a street-like structure."

The Skate Plaza Committee was hoping to be closer to downtown.  They favored the Roundhouse Property, a parcel of land south of Washington Street and east of the future Seventh Street extension.  According to Mayor John Kivela, the property is being looked at as the site for a federal courthouse.

"This would be a building built most likely by a private developer," said Kivela, "and leased back to the federal government, which means it's a fully taxable, multimillion dollar property."

Commissioner Don Potvin, however, wanted to put the whole project on hold, stating the stagnant economy and a tight budget as his reasoning.

"I just think it's not the time to get into this, maybe a better time later," said Potvin.  "We're not bound by contract, and I hope nobody thinks that.  It's a promise made by an earlier commission; I don't think we have to uphold it."

Commissioners approved the skate park project in a six-to-one vote.

The city will spend up $75,000 for the construction of the skate plaza upon a two-to-one match from the skate plaza committee.

"I think that's the part that is going to demonstrate whether or not people really want this, and I think there are," said commissioner Don Ryan, "and I think we should give them the opportunity."

The Skate Plaza Committee must raise $150,000 to meet the city's requirement, but they'll need to raise a total of $200,000 if they want to stick with their current construction plans.

They have till June 30, 2011 to raise the money.