A war of words has erupted over plans to build a skate park in Yenda's Memorial Park, with members of the Yenda Progress Association staunchly opposing the choice of site.
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The progress association insists the "silent majority" in Yenda oppose the prospect of "a potentially noisy and socially offensive skate park in Memorial Park", especially given its association with the nearby RSL.
Progress Association secretary Paul Rossetto said he also opposed the site on the grounds it would be too small and too overcrowded.
"We feel Memorial Park is beautiful the way it is," Mr Rossetto said.
"The park is already well-utilised as it is, and we feel there are better sites out there."
Instead, the Yenda Progress Association is proposing three alternative locations for the skate park: Cyril Morris Park, Yenda Rotary Park, and an empty stretch of land on Park Street.
However Yenda Skate Park Community and Organisation volunteer Ann Furner said Memorial Park was the best location in Yenda, given its proximity to facilities such as the playground, shade, lighting, toilets, shops, and adult supervision.
"I do understand the concern of the residents who are objecting to this location, however locating the skate park in the centre of town will help attract people to town," Ms Furner said.
"A skate park provides a facility for adults and children of all ages to socialise, to be active, to improve their skills and to have fun."
The organisers will hold a community consultation with Griffith City Council and the skate park builders CONVIC either in late January or early February.
Once the community consultation is finished, the organisers will be drawing up the draft plans (including the choice of site) and submitting them to council as a development application.
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The skate park project won $200,000 in My Community Project funding in December of 2019 after attracting the most votes in the seat of Murray.
The clock is ticking on the Yenda skate park project, which must be completed by mid December this year or else risk losing its state government funding.
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"We are excited and look forward to working with Yenda Public School, Griffith City Council, Yenda residents and CONVIC over the next 12 months," Ms Furner said.
"We will continue an open discussion with Griffith City Council to ensure we meet all requirements within the 12 month timeframe of the funding deed."
The Yenda Progress Association has written to council, asking them to "mediate a consensus" on the choice of location before the project goes to a development application.
The progress association are planning to meet with councillors and the skate park organisers in the coming weeks to discuss their differences in opinion and possible ways forward.
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