The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines announced Thursday that it will donate a leadership grant of $50,000 to fund the conceptual design for a skate park in Des Moines.

The city of Des Moines has already approved two acres along the west side of the Principal Riverwalk for use in development of the park, which city planners are striving to make the largest in the United States.

The foundation hopes funding for the design will provide a jump-start to fundraising efforts to build the Des Moines Regional Skatepark facility, which project backers hope will become a venue for regional and national skateboarding exhibitions and competitions.

The effort is being led by the Des Moines Regional Skatepark Steering Committee, a grassroots group that helped supporters organize and move the project forward.

“We were impressed by the collaboration and youth involvement in this community initiative to build a skate park that will put Greater Des Moines on the national map for this growing sport,” said Community Foundation board member Fred Hubbell in a news release.

The design process will be led by specialty construction firm California Skateparks.