Hulbert Working On A Tony Hawk Skate Park Grant

Parents hear it all the time from their kids. "I'm bored." "there's nothing to do." One eastern Oklahoma community is working to get a grant that will give kids something to do. <br/><br/>News

Thursday, August 17th 2006, 9:33 am

By: News On 6

Parents hear it all the time from their kids. "I'm bored." "there's nothing to do." One eastern Oklahoma community is working to get a grant that will give kids something to do.

News on 6 anchor Craig Day went to Hulbert in Cherokee County to find out more.

Hulbert Mayor Shirley Teague: â€œthese kids have to be busy. They don't like to sit idle." High school senior Coty Marrs: "We have nothing to do. Just sit around pretty much." Many teens say finding something to do in Hulbert is tough.

The town of 500 used to have a pool hall, but that's closed now. Tahlequah and Wagoner are both about 15 miles away. Coty Marrs: "the way gas is, we really don't have a way into town." Mayor Shirley Teague: "we have several kids that like to skateboard. But it's a problem finding a place to skateboard."

That may change soon. Hulbert is in the running for a Tony Hawk Foundation grant for a new public skateboard park. 9th grader Sean Palmer: â€œit would be great. It would be awesome."

Tony Hawk is the best known professional skateboarder in the world. Coty Marrs: "he's like the King.â€ And a pioneer in extreme sports.

Since 2002, the Tony Hawk foundation has given out $1.3-million in grants to build public skateboard parks in low income communities. The grants range from $1,000 on up to $25,000. Hulbert sent in an application and even has a site in mind at an old tennis court.

The mayor and many kids think it would be a nice addition to the community. Sean Palmer: "I would be there everyday after school. I stay here. After school, I stay in town and ride around." The mayor wants students to write letters to the Hawk Foundation to improve chances of landing the grant.

Hulbert will know in October if they'll get the grant.

The Tony Hawk Foundation has awarded grants to three other Oklahoma communities so far. Those are Pawnee, Guymon and Laverne.