BEECH BOTTOM — A park that has been a center of activities for Beech Bottom, including a fall festival set for Oct. 9, will be refurbished through a grant secured by two U.S. senators.
U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.; have announced the village is among eight West Virginia communities that will receive money from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Mayor Becky Uhlly said Beech Bottom Council has approved a 100 percent match for $83,478 awarded through the fund.
She said the money will be used to repave and line the basketball court at the village’s Third Street Park and replace mulch around its playground equipment with a rubber-like base found to be safer and more durable.
Uhlly said there also are plans to install a handicap-accessible swing.
Located near the center of the village, the park has been the location for a yearly community picnic held by the village and will be the site of a fall festival on Oct. 9.
Sponsored by village officials, the event will include craft and food vendors, a corn hole tournament and cake walk for adults and hayrides to a pumpkin patch where children may select a pumpkin. Music will be provided by a disc jockey from noon to 2 p.m. and by the band Fallen Under from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
There also will be inflatable attractions for children, face painting and a caricature artist.
Also receiving grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund are: Wheeling Park, $166,678 for its pool and bathhouse; Huntington Park, $197,714 for a gazebo; the City of Morgantown, $120,000 for Hazel Ruby McQuain Park; Nitro Park, $105,000 for a spray pad; the City of Beckley for its Freedom Park playground; and the City of Richwood for upgrades to its swimming pool.
Manchin and Capito noted last year they supported the Great American Outdoors Act, legislation that allocated $900 million to the LWCF and supported deferred maintenance projects on federal lands.
Manchin said, “With 54 of our 55 counties having received LWCF investments at some point, the benefits of LWCF can be felt across the Mountain State. These LWCF funds are critical to supporting our state’s strong and growing outdoor recreation economy and strengthening our local communities.”
Capito said, “West Virginia is nationally recognized for our beautiful landscape and recreational opportunities. With that in mind, I have long supported the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which helps preserve our outdoor spaces for future generations. This funding will aid redevelopment efforts for locations across West Virginia, while also helping to improve the infrastructure of parks in communities important to our state.”