(KAIR)--Although construction of Atchison’s new skatepark was set to begin earlier this month, rainy weather has put a slight delay on the plans.

Artisan Skateparks, the contractor for the project, was scheduled to arrive at Atchison’s Reisner Park, site of the new skatepark, last week, to begin grade work on the 4,500 square foot project.

However, Atchison Public Works Director Clinton McNemee told MSC News, the contractor “ran into several days of wet weather in Texas which delayed them on the project” they are completing at that location.
Now, they look to mobilize in Atchison this week.

According to McNemee, the City hauled 550 tons of dirt to the park in recent weeks, with that dirt donated by Rubble Reprocessing, in preparation of the project’s start.

Once Artisan Skateparks begins working at the Atchison location, McNemee says “they expect to be complete in 6-weeks” pending weather.

The Reisner Park Skatepark Project is a cooperative effort between the Skate High With Hope the Joshua Kinsman Foundation and the City of Atchison. The foundation was named for late Atchison resident, and skateboarding enthusiast, Joshua Kinsman, who died in January, 2018 at the age of 17. Kinsman’s mother, Pamela Cline, presented her vision of seeing the park built in Kinsman’s honor to the City Commission in April, 2018.

According to McNemee, the $200,000 project is being funded by a $5,000 grant from the Skatepark Project, formerly known as the Tony Hawk Foundation, a $75,000 City of Atchison contribution, and private donations raised by Skate High with Hope, the Joshua Kinsman Foundation.