Skateboarders in Warrenton will soon have a place to call home. Warrenton aldermen have agreed to allocate funds for a skate park that will aim to provide a place for area youth to visit and be embraced rather than being run off private property. The board voted 6-0 June 7 to move forward with the project. At the same meeting, aldermen approved new park rules that will prohibit skateboards at other city parks. The proposed skate park will be built on the northwest section of Khoury Park, a central location in the city off Walton Street. The area of the park was favored since it's rarely utilized and is near a pavilion and bathroom facilities. It would be located far enough away from any batted balls that might fly in that direction from both of the parks' ballfields. The skate park will be built next spring, Director of Operations/Finance Officer Terri Thorn said. A preliminary rendering of the 100-by-50-foot park shows multiple ramps, a rail and a picnic table for skateboarders to perform their stunts and tricks on. Brad Busekrus, maintenance and grounds director, noted he's heard nothing but positive remarks from talking with officials from both Fulton and O'Fallon after building similar parks "The ones I talked to said it's the best thing they've done," he said. "It gets the use. The kids keep it clean. It's a place for them to go. It's a very nice community thing." The skate park project is included in the 2011-2012 budget, which was adopted this week and goes into effect July 1. The project will be paid for from the capital sales tax fund. The estimated cost of the skate park is $33,500, Busekrus said. "I think it' s a great idea," Ward 1 Alderman Dan Dieckmann said. "A great idea for the kids." Mayor Greg Costello commended a committee of Busekrus, Recreation Director Jenny Hoffmann and Police Chief Greg Houdyshell for recommending the project. "I think the reality is we live in a world that has skateboards," he said. "I think we all know where we don't want them. We can either ignore it or try to facilitate an area where it is allowed. Kids have a variety of interests. Some want to play baseball and some don't. Some want to play soccer. "I don't think we can have too many things for them to do to keep them out of mischief so we don't have as many Kroger events that we're starting to see." While some concerns may be raised about the city's liability, Thorn informed the board the city's insurance premium would increase by $750 to $1,000. "I understand there is some risk involved, but we probably wouldn't do anything in the city if we avoided all the risks," Costello said.