Myles Clark left his home on Gill Street Tuesday after school and told his mom he was going to ride his bike.
Which was true, but the 11-year-old left out his intended destination: City Hall.
After talking with Mayor Justin McKenzie and waiting through a two-hour meeting, the fifth grader at Columbia Elementary presented his idea to build a skate park to the Board of Aldermen.
“I know at least a dozen people who have been waiting on a skate park and skating. We just have nowhere to do it,” he said, before adding, “Raise your hand if you have grandchildren or children.”
All the officials responded, and Myles continued his presentation, saying the nearest skate parks are in Petal and Baton Rouge so there would be a large market locally that Columbia could draw from. He recommended wood over cement because it doesn’t hurt as bad when you fall and showed aldermen drawings of different facilities on his phone.
He even discussed financials, noting how earlier in the meeting the board had talked about raising water rates by 57 cents per month and that a similar funding mechanism would work for a skate park.
“When they come in, you get better profit,” Myles said.
Around that time his mom, Ashley Clark, arrived. She had texted him where he was at, and he sent her back a photo of city officials during the meeting.
“I had no clue,” she said.
She said her heart fell out when she found out her son had been talking with the mayor because she knows how open Myles is.
But it all worked out well. Aldermen came away impressed with his presentation, with Anna Evans saying she would look into it because she campaigned for something for children to do.
Afterward, Myles and his mom talked with a reporter.
“Were you nervous?” Myles was asked.
“Actually, I wasn’t,” he said.
And that was no doubt the truth.
Pictured Above: Myles Clark discusses his ideas for a skate park with Columbia aldermen Tuesday as Mayor Justin McKenzie watches in amusement. The 11-year-old took the initiative on his own to meet with the board and made a smooth presentation. | Photo by Charlie Smith
