ZELIENOPLE — The project to build a new skate park in the borough’s community park is another step closer to achieving its funding goal.

Park officials recently received word that the project has been awarded a $200,000 grant by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

“It certainly is a blessing for us,” said skate park committee member Jeff Barkley. “Everybody has been diligently working hard to try to see this come about.”

The project’s budget is about 70 percent complete for funding, Barkley said.

Barkley previously said the goal is to have $500,000 to $600,000 before building the skate park.

“We’ve raised about $200,000 through our grass-roots fundraising events and this grant was a match to that,” Barkley said.

Park officials and volunteers also are preparing for its leading fundraising initiative, fish fry dinners during Lent.

Fish fries will be from 4 to 8 p.m. every Friday from March 3 to April 14 at the American Legion Hall on West New Castle Street.

The skate park committee will also apply for grant funding from the Tony Hawk Foundation. The park did not qualify for the grant last year.

The initiative for the skate park stems from the tragic deaths of three Seneca Valley High School students and local volunteer firefighters who died in January 2010 when their vehicle slid off an icy road and into a lake.

Thursday will be the seventh anniversary of the tragedy and the sixth anniversary of the skate park’s fundraising initiative.

The community park is also trying to raise funds for its planned new pool. Park officials said construction for the pool is planned to begin at the end of the 2017 swimming season.

This means construction on the skate park may be scheduled for fall 2018 to spring 2019.

“We’re so close now,” Barkley said. “The next two years are going to be critical for us to close the gap on our fundraising.”

Barkley encourages people to support the cause.The skate park will be designed by West Seattle, Wash.-based Grindline, which unveiled its first design to the community in June 2015. The design received input from local skaters and community members.

The skate park will replace the basketball court and part of the parking lot near the swimming pool. The basketball court will be moved to an undetermined location in the park.

Grindline representatives said the skate park also will be BMX-bike friendly and ideal for skaters of all experience levels.