That's what it comes down to for the skatepark slated to be built at 41 Miles Ave. in Los Gatos. The park, however, is in limbo as it waits for word of a close to $750,000 grant.

"The environmental impact report passed, the town OK'd it, an architect designed it, the kids added their input. Now, it's just a matter of funding," said JoAnne Peth, a Monte Sereno resident who is the head of the community fundraising effort for the skatepark.

Officials who helped develop the skatepark, costing nearly $1 million, applied for a highly competitive State Urban Parks and Healthy Community grant, provided by California State Parks.

There are 212 applications for the grants, which total almost $24 million.

"There are more applicants than there is funding," California State Parks representative Patti Keating said.

The grant would cover close to $750,000 of the expenses, Pamela Jacobs, assistant town manager, said.

Originally, the town was told that it would find out early in the summer if it would receive the grant, but Los Gatos was recently informed it would not be settled until the end of the summer, Peth said.

If the town does get the grant, Peth said there would not be much fundraising to do.

With the possibility of the grant falling through, however, Peth said she is still trying to contact companies and individuals who might be interested in donating.

"We're on the fence. We have contacted some companies willing to help, but they may not need to help. When we find out if we got the grant, we'll either say to them, 'We appreciate your help' or, worst case, if we didn't get the grant, 'Thanks for your donation, and by the way, do you have any friends who want to donate?' " said Peth, whose teenage son skates.

So far, the city of Monte Sereno donated $100,000, the town of Los Gatos $125,000, Central Concrete Supply $5,000 and community members $7,000.

Until the funds are raised or granted, however, skaters will have to improvise.

Shane Baxley, a Los Gatos resident, said it's difficult for him to find an adequate place to skate without receiving any complaints.

"Sometimes we go to empty parking lots, but we'll get yelled at by the cops for skateboarding," Baxley said.

Besides empty parking lots, driveways and school lots, there are nearby skateparks in Campbell, Santa Cruz, Sunnyvale and San Jose, Peth said.