Hello Friends, I wanted all 664 of you supporters and skaters alike to be informed. Please find below an email I sent out to our City of Lufkin officials, media and others involved regarding a few oversights that need to be addressed for the future developments of this project!!!!!! Dear Sir and Madams,                 I respectfully come to you with the utmost respect and comradery as a voice for the skateboarding community in East Texas and Lufkin.  It is with great admiration that the City of Lufkin has found funding to support building a skatepark for the community.  However, there is a great deal of valid concern that needs to be brought forth in ensuring this project is successful and lasting.                 In January of this year, I created a petition to the City of Lufkin to help with this project.  A project that has been on the Council floor numerous times in past years.   After a very impromptu meeting with the City Manager and Parks and Recreation director in the spring of this year involving many participants in the East Texas Skateboarder community, the group was left with the impression that the City had zero funding.  We raised questions on how we could contribute to the project and possibly eliminate using city funds all together.  The City Manager asked us to organize and find funding.  Over the course of a few months we have been trying to do just that, it was a difficult task to unify during summer months , as everyone typically vacations then.  In August and September, the group organized and gathered solid information to finally bring forth on the project.  Made calls, as well as, maintained a line of communication with key members of the City in order to keep this valuable project on the table.                    However, September 6th, 2016, at the City Council meeting it was voted to utilize left over CIP funding to build a modular skatepark at Kiwanis park.  In the Agenda for this meeting, it only stated that there were "proposed projects" and it left a very unclear gap for the skateboard community to attend and be a part of a project that they will utilize or to be able to express concern and opinion.  Upon hearing the news, there were initial feelings of excitement and gratitude that was felt throughout the group.  A group that sometimes can be looked upon with stereotypical attitude and stigmas, now was finally being recognized individually.  Other emotions that also transpired was that there wasn't a courtesy line of communication to this group for them to be a part of the upcoming decision.  Nor was the issue of a skatepark brought up in the council meetings prior to this date.                 After September 6th, some parents and skateboarders themselves have made efforts to communicate our concerns with the City Mayor and City Manager.  There is another Council meeting September 20th, 2016.  Despite our best efforts to communicate with the Mayor and City Manager via an advocate for our group, the City Secretary told us the agenda had already been set and there was no room for public opinion.                 We, as a majority group, feel that the City of Lufkin has a due diligence to be transparent with this project.  There hasn't been ample amount of community input or public opportunity given towards this major purchase with city tax dollars in such a recessed economy.  The modular system that is being delegated for this project will eventually be useless if not maintained properly, even with a 20-year warranty that only covers defects not wear and tear.   A system that has documented evidence of causing 2nd and 3rd degree burns to skaters when exposed to Texas rising temperatures, coming unbolted due to its high impact activity that creates a skating hazard, as well as, accumulate heavy rust and not to mention they are obnoxiously noisy.  Even if the system is not intact, the skaters will continue to use it and potentially create a bigger problem.  Most skateparks are now building concrete parks because the modular systems are outdated and not the preferred method among skaters.                 We adamantly feel that a concrete park is the best solution for this project.  There are available sources that show that American Ramp Company (ARC) is not the only reasonable provider.  The park built in the hometown of ARC is a concrete park.  As we  also tried to communicate with the City officials on this that there was a potential to fall below budget and build a safer, durable skatepark.  If concrete is not the best solution, then why build this modular system on a concrete slab?   You can't tell football players you will build them a football field and only give them 50 yard lines or rubber mulch to play on.                 It is my understanding that through communication with our advocate, the City Manager extended  an invitation to the skateboarding community for a public hearing AFTER the council approves this purchase on September 20th, 2016.  That does not provide room for this group to properly express opposition to the clearly expedited process that is taking place.  This forum would only allow for the skateboarder community to have a say on the modular ramp system.                  As with any project that this council approves to utilize city funding also comes opposition and we acknowledge that.  We do not want to see the project dissolved or tabled due to opposition,  however, We humbly come to you asking for a more in depth consideration to this matter that we as a whole feel so passionately about.  A project that will provide so much to youth and adults in the community and surrounding areas,  that need an outlet to express their individuality.                                                                                                                 Sincerely,                                                                                                                 Amy Dunn