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MARQUETTE -- After seven years of planning and raising money, construction is finally underway on the Marquette skate park.

Wednesday, construction crews were preparing the land for what will be a state of the art skate park. The park will be located at the corner of Fair and Pine Streets in Marquette in front of the YMCA. Officials hope to have the project completed in September.

"This project has been in the works for seven years; it's a very long time, but this is an incredible day," said project official, Nheena Weyer-Ittner. "And it's amazing because I've lived in this community now for 30 years, but the number of people who come out for youth events or youth causes, it's amazing."

The skate plaza committee raised $150,000 for the project with the help of local businesses. A grant from the Tony Hawk Foundation, as well as companies like Rio Tinto, helped the group reach their goal. The city of Marquette agreed to chip in an additional $75,000.