He noted that of the $241,000 project cost, $135,000 came from the federal funds administered by the Northern Marianas Housing Corp.
The rest of the money came from the local appropriation and private contributions, including $20,000 from CNMI Youth Foundation president John Robinson.
In his remarks, Fitial said without the continuous efforts of local stakeholders “we would not be here today for this ribbon-cutting ceremony for a worthwhile project that benefits our youth population and community.”
Scott McClarin, the former president of ISK8 and one the proponents of the project, left the island last October.
In his message read by Rotary Club’s Kathryn Barry, McClarin said the issue is not really the money, or where the money comes from.
The real issue, McClarin said, “is how much support the community has, and how devoted the main drivers of the initiative are.”
Being involved in the community, he added, is more than just voting during elections.
It is also about “meeting people, talking reasonably and physically overcoming our shortcomings for the benefit of the community to create real changes and make real things happen,” he said.
“For us having an ISK8 park is just about the coolest thing Saipan could ever have for people under 30, and for some of us over that age,” he added.
The skate park is lighted by a solar-powered lamp posts with wi-fi Internet connection.
Rotarian Laurie Peterka said the project is for the children.
The project has been through a long journey involving dozens of meetings.
She recalled that children always showed up for these meetings and demonstrated a great deal of cooperation.
Led by their current president Johanna Arrellano, over a hundred ISK8 members attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
She recalled how they got into trouble many times when they skated in areas not for skating.
Property owners would tell them to leave, she added.
The construction of the skate park began in June 2008 and was completed in Oct. 2008.
It was in 2006 when Rotarians Dennis Yoshimoto and Laurie Peterka, urged the Rotary Club of Saipan to build a skate park.
