ZELIENOPLE — The memorial skate park committee is reporting another successful year for its Lenten fish fry fundraiser.

About 4,000 dinners and 2,600 pounds of cod were served throughout Lent to benefit the committee's efforts in building a skate park in the borough's community park.

That equates to about $30,000 after expenses, said committee member Jeff Barkley.

“We're up 10 percent from previous years,” Barkley said of the annual fundraiser. “It continues to grow and we get new people coming out to support it every year.”

The skate park has been in the planning and fundraising stages since 2010. The idea came from tragedy after three Seneca Valley High School students who were local volunteer firefighters died in January of that year after their vehicle slid off an icy road and into a lake.

Barkley said the project has raised moe than $400,000, about 65 percent of the $750,000 goal. Committee members previously said between $500,000 and $600,000 was needed to begin work on the park.

“Every year, the momentum grows for this project,” said committee member and community park volunteer Jen Semel. “Community support has been phenomenal. We hope to continue the fish fries long after the skate park has been completed.”

The project in January was awarded a $200,000 grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. More grant funding is being sought, including from the Tony Hawk Foundation.

While the park is planned to be designed by Seattle, Wash.-based company Grindline, more designs from skating companies will be considered as part of the grant requirement with the DCNR.

“We are definitely open for discussion and other ideas,” Barkley said.

Barkley said bids will be put out for companies within the next few weeks.

“We're looking for designs with current objects and features kids want to skate on today, which is primarily more of a 'street' style than just bowls,” he said.

Updates on the skate park can be found on the Zelienople Community Park's web page at myzeliepark.org.