Work on a new skateboard park in Carthage is ramping up. The Carthage Public Services Committee gave the go-ahead for work to being on the skateboard park's concrete pad, which is expected to cost the city nearly $12,000.

The park's concrete pad measures 3,000 square feet and will be placed at the southern end of the Fair Acres Sports Complex. The first phase of the project is expected to be complete for skaters to use at the end of July.

"They really have no place legally to skate, so this provides them an area like it does any other sport like baseball or soccer. It gives them an area where they can go and do their sport and not worry about trespassing on people's property and be arrested or have their boards confiscated," says Carthage City Administrator, Tom Short.

Future phases of the skateboard park are planned for next year. Carthage city officials plan to match any donations raised for future improvements to the park; up to $12,000.