FAIRHOPE, Ala. - This week the City of Fairhope received ADECA grant monies totaling $38,000, long awaited funding for the city’s Skateboard Park. 

“The ADECA grant was originally secured to cover a portion of the initial park construction and recent ramp additions but due to more stringent federal guidelines on change orders, the grant was denied leaving the city holding the bag for the $38,000,” said Mayor Tim Kant. 

The total cost on the park was $93,000, with the $38,000 ADECA grant, a $25,000 donation from a private individual, and $30,000 from the city’s coffers. 

Mayor Kant made multiple trips to Montgomery to work out issues and secured the funding, with the assistance of ADECA Director Jim Byard and John Baker, president of Thompson Engineering in Fairhope. 

“John Baker was helpful in explaining the engineering aspects of the project. Also Jim Byard is himself a former mayor, and so he understood the issues regarding grant denial and he was able to help the City work through those issues to secure the funding,” Kant said.