The SprayGround is part of a proposal to build an outdoor park on the same site as the Veterans Memorial Community Center, home to the ice arena and aquatic and fitness center at 80th Street and Barbara Avenue. The project, which will eventually go to the City Council for approval, is in the early planning stages, but residents are already excited. Many teen-agers have advocated for the park and are researching how to build one. A basketball court would be next to the skate park. Both would be surrounded by a paved trail accessible to in-line skaters and others.
Many details have yet to be worked out for the about five-acre park.
It's possible that park visitors will have to pay to use some elements such as the skateboarding area and the SprayGround while other features would be free, like the trails and basketball court. The park will include some type of marker to honor local veterans. The community has talked about creating a veterans park for many years. Ted Thomsen, Commander of the American Legion Post in Inver Grove Heights, said the park will be a good reminder to younger people that veterans fought for this country's freedom. Atkins said he hopes that some site work could start this year, but it might take until 2002 or 2003 to finish the park.