Nearly $19 million in funds announced by Governor Justice for projects in West Virginia
CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — Nearly $19 million in funds for 61 West Virginia outdoor recreation projects was announced by Governor Justice.
The funds will go towards projects in 34 counties, nine travel regions, and almost 700 miles of trails throughout the state.
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Investing in our cities, towns, parks, and trails is truly one of the best ways to attract tourists and improve the daily lives of our residents. This program allocates millions of dollars to make some of the most cherished places in West Virginia easier to access, which will also increase visitation throughout the state. The positive economic ripple effects will be widespread, and I’m thrilled to approve these initiatives for our great state.”
Governor Justice
Thanks to Governor Justice’s steadfast commitment to and investment in tourism and community infrastructure, we have become national leaders for our state’s parks and public lands. These funds will allow West Virginia to continue building its reputation as a top outdoor recreation state. I can’t wait to see all these projects under construction and our state continue to receive the national and international recognition it deserves for our outdoor spaces. It truly is Almost Heaven.”
Chelsea Ruby | West Virginia Tourism Secretary
Cities, towns, and counties will be able to use the funds to create new or improve existing sidewalks, rail trails, walking paths, lighting, and more.
Projects for the recreational trails program that are state and federally funded include:
Fayette County: $350,000 went to West Virginia DNR Babcock State Park for extended repair of the damaged portion of the Narrow Gauge Trail in Babcock State Park, and the City of Montgomery received $60,000 to redevelop and repair 1.5 miles of the Montgomery Tech Trails.
Greenbrier County: Greenbrier River Trail Foundation received $1,250,000 to build a bridge decking replacement on 37 Greenbrier River Rail Trail bridges.
Mercer County: $187,500 went to the Mercer County Commission for the Bluestone River Trail. The funds will provide 15 miles of hiking trails along Camp Creek from Camp Creek State Park to the Bluestone National Scenic River, by the Bluestone National Scenic River to Pipestem Resort State Park, as well as a separate branch that will extend along Brush Creek to Gardner.
Raleigh County: Raleigh County Recreation Authority received $240,000 for Clear Fork Rail-Trail II, which will help build a new 185-foot pedestrian bridge, around 10 miles of trail, renovate the current 245-foot McDowell Hollow Trestle, and demolish the Wolfpen Trestle.
Summers County: $250,000 went to the Summers County Commission for The Great Eastern Trail and the Mary Ingles Trail. The trails include 25 miles of Trail for horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking in Summers County. It will also include access to Pipestem State Park, Bluestone State Park, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, and the Bluestone National Scenic River.
Berkeley County: The City of Martinsburg was awarded $750,000 for the Martinsburg Creekside Trail. The funds will help create a connector trail that will be around 0.6 miles and connect downtown Martinsburg (Queen Street) to Oatesdale Park and Frog Hollow Trail.
Cabell County: Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District received $100,000 for Memorial Park Pathway GHPRD which will go towards repairing 7,500 feet of path in multiple areas along the Memorial Park Pathway, as well as pavement and edge boards.
Hardy County: $300,000 went to the Hardy County Commission. The funds will go towards the construction of around 2.8 miles of the single-track Jay Moglia Beginner Trail in Lost River State Park.
Harrison County: The City of Clarksburg received $300,000 for Clarksburg Hub Urban Rail-Trail Connection – Phase I to construct trail segments to close a rail-trail gap in the City. $284,970 went to the City of Clarksburg for the Lowndes Park Trail System and Bike Park. The money will go towards constructing nine trails that will total around 4.5 miles, including a jump trail, a pump track, and two trailheads in Lowndes Hill.
Kanawha County: West Virginia DNR Kanawha State Forest received $100,000 for Davis Creek Trail – Phase I, which will involve long-term rehabilitation and future extension of the Trail and bridges. The Mary Ingles Trail Blazer Chapter of the WV Scenic Trails Association was awarded $265,540 for Marmet Locks: Mary Ingles Memorial Trail. The funds will help create about 3,700 feet of pedestrian primitive trail around Mt. Holly Lawn on the Marmet Locks and Dam.
Lewis County: The Lewis County Commission received $152,731 for the Lewis County Park Trail Extension. The trail extension will add around 1,000 feet of new trails, as well as upgrade the existing 2,000 feet of walking paths at Lewis County Park.
Lincoln County: $250,000 went to the National Coal Heritage Area Authority for the Guyandotte Water Trail Access to construct a river access point and boat launch along the Guyandotte River near Ranger.
Logan County: The Hatfield McCoy Regional Recreation Authority was awarded $125,000.00 for the Bearwallow Trail System. Maintenance will be performed by Hatfield McCoy on the current 125 miles of the Bearwallow Trail System. Rural Heath Access Corporation, dba Coalfield Health Center, received $103,000 for Chapmanville Community Greenspace. The creation of a Logan County Greenspace will give residents a path and nature walk for walking, jogging, and biking to increase physical activity. $125,000 went to the Hatfield McCoy Regional Recreation Authority for Logan County Trail System Maintenance. The maintenance on 50 to 75 miles of the Logan County Trail System will be done by Hatfield McCoy.
Mingo County: Hatfield McCoy Regional Recreation Authority received $125,000 for the Buffalo Mountain Trail System. Hatfield McCoy will do maintenance on the system’s 100 miles of Existing Trail. $125,000 went to the Hatfield McCoy Regional Recreation Authority for Devil Anse Trail System Maintenance which will be done by Hatfield McCoy on 56 miles of the Devil Anse Trail System. Friends of the Tug Fork River received $53,000 for Tug Fork River Water Trail Boat Ramps. The funds will be used for a boat ramp and other facilities by the 60-mile-long Bloody Mingo Tug Fork River Water Trail, that will allow access to the river for motorized and non-motorized watercrafts.
Monongalia County: Sally Taylor, West Virginia Botanic Garden, Inc., received $50,000 for trail improvements and rehab of approximately three-quarters of a mile of the Garden’s main trail, the Reservoir Loop Trail (RLT), which encircles the central features of the Garden. $375,000 went to the West Virginia University Research Corporation for WVU’s West Run Trails Enhancement Project. The funding will be used to create more than 10 miles of new shared-use and single-use trails, as well as upgrade 10 miles of current trails and forest roads to modern standards for natural surface trail sustainability.
Morgan County: West Virginia DNR received $200,000 for Cacapon Resort State Park Trails. The funding will be utilized for the Appalachian Conservation Corps request to refurbish the old CCC trails.
Ohio County: $40,000 went to the Ohio Valley Trail Partners for the Wheeling Heritage Trail Connector. The funds will help paint bike lines, as well as add signs for cyclists between current trails that are in the City of Wheeling.
Randolph County: Elkins Parks and Recreation Commission received $485,000 for Glendale Park Skills Area. Monongahela National Forest Greenbrier RD was awarded $375,000 for Mower Tract North – Phase IV, that will create 8.2 miles of new trail at Mower Tract, Cheat Mountain, and connect it to current loops (Phase 1-3) on the Monongahela National Forest Mower basin.
Ritchie County: $100,000 went to the North Bend Rails-To-Trails Foundation, Inc., North Bend Rail Trail – Phase II, that will include surveying and ditching the Trail.
Tucker County: The Nature Conservancy was awarded $300,000 for Brown Mountain to A-Frame Connector, that will include the construction of trails to give access to other trails at the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The City of Parsons received $110,000 for Corrick’s Ford Battlefield Dev Project – Phase II, which will add around 38 lights and fixtures along the existing Corrick’s Ford Trail.
Projects for transportation alternatives include:
Greenbrier County: Greenbrier River Trail Foundation, Inc. received $764,941.25 for Greenbrier River Trail Bridge Decking – Supplemental Phase to replace the decking on around 37 Greenbrier River Trail bridges.
Pocahontas County: USDA Forest Service was awarded $1,250,000 to reconstruct Cranberry Glades Boardwalk. $100,000 went to the town of Marlinton for sidewalks in the central business district and residential area.
Summers County: The City of Hinton received $710,803.75 for sidewalks along Pleasant Street.
Barbour County: $75,000 was awarded to the City of Philippi for sidewalks on both sides of Main Street.
Berkeley County: The City of Martinsburg received $400,000 for the Martinsburg Frog Hollow Rail-Trail Route 9 Overpass Bridge Remediation. The funds will help upgrade the 103 feet bridge span to protect the structure and enhance the safety of the bridge, which will include the abutments and railings.
Braxton County: $100,000 was awarded to the Braxton County Commission for the Gassaway Trail-to-Town Connector, which will be used for sidewalks connecting the Elk River Trail on Elk Road and the Gassaway Depot to 5th Street.
Doddridge County: Doddridge County Commission received $125,000 for the Doddridge County Park Pedestrian Bridge, which spans the Meathouse Fork and connects to the EQT Creekside Education Trail and the North Bend Rail Trail.
Grant County: Grant County Commission was awarded $162,500 for Phase II of the Petersburg River Park Hike and Bike Trail Continuation that will help create a trail on the Town of Petersburg’s levee system.
Hampshire County: $50,000 was awarded to the Town of Capon Bridge Capon Bridge for sidewalks in the Town of Capon Bridge and connecting to Main Street.
Harrison County: The City of Clarksburg received $100,000 for Phase I of the Glen Elk Streetscape and Green Infrastructure. The funds will be for sidewalks in the Glen Elk area.
Jefferson County: The City of Charles Town was awarded $382,217.50 for the Charles Town Liberty Street Sidewalk upgrade on Liberty Street from George Street to Samuel Street. $66,000 was given to the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission for Duffield’s Depot Rehabilitation. The funds will help with paint analysis, trimming carpentry, repairing/replastering the interior walls, painting the interior and exterior trim, and installing a handicapped-accessible ramp.
Kanawha County: The City of Charleston received $150,000 for Smith Street and Leon Sullivan Way for sidewalks and street lighting from Morris Street to Leon Sullivan Way along Smith Street. The town of Marmet was awarded $650,000 for Marmet Lens Creek Road Pedestrian Safety Improvements, which will include sidewalks along West Virginia Route 61.
Monongalia County: $300,000 was given to Monongahela River Trails Conservancy for Deckers Creek Rail Trail Restoration. The money will help with restoring the drainage and surface of about five miles of the Trail. The City of Morgantown received $945,000 for the Morgantown Municipal Airport Streetscape Project to build a new sidewalk and add lighting along Hart Field Road, from the Mileground to the terminal. The City of Westover was awarded $125,000 for Westover Fairmont Road Sidewalks to build new sidewalks on the north side of Fairmont Road (Route 19) from Dupont Road to Dent’s Run Road.
Morgan County: The Town of Bath received $70,000 for Phase IV of the Bath/Berkeley Springs Streetscape for sidewalks on Congress Street, North Washington Street, Union Street, Fairfax Street, and Mercer Street. $62,500 was awarded to the town of Paw Paw for the Paw Paw Sidewalk Improvement Project, for sidewalks along Winchester Street and Moser Avenue for about 0.47 miles south from Town Hall to the intersection of Winchester Street and Moser Avenue and west to the library.
Nicholas County: The City of Summersville was given $675,000 for Phase II of the Summersville Webster Road Sidewalk Construction Improvements for sidewalks on the west side of Webster Road from Gladwell Drive to just past the United Bank building at the corner of West Webster Road and Route 41.
Ohio County: The City of Wheeling received $1,700,000 for Wheeling Robrecht Riverfront Park Pedestrian Improvements, that will help build pedestrian and bicycle walkways, as well as trails in the Robrecht Riverfront Park area of Wheeling Creek and the Ohio River.
Putnam County: $350,000 was awarded to the town of Eleanor for Phase I of the Eleanor Park Sidewalk. The funding will be used to build new sidewalks from the Eleanor Park entrance through the woods to the existing footbridge. The town of Poca received $460,000 for Phase II of the Poca Laurel Avenue Sidewalk Extension. The funds will help build a new sidewalk and finish the pedestrian connection between Route 63 and the Subdivision. $350,000 was awarded to the City of Winfield for Phase I of the Winfield Sidewalk System, which will include a sidewalk on the east side of Route 817 (Winfield Road) from Hawthorn Drive to Waterside Drive.
Randolph County: Randolph County Commission received $50,000 for ADA Compliant Entrance and Sidewalks at the Randolph County Courthouse. The funding will be used for the reconstruction of the sidewalk and stairs at the main entrance of the courthouse to make them ADA compliant, and for a new sidewalk connection to make a continuous walking path around the courthouse.
Tucker County: $100,000 was given to the Town of Davis for around 3,000 feet of sidewalks along Main Street.
Upshur County: The City of Buckhannon received $75,000 for the Buckhannon Morton Avenue & North Locust Street Sidewalk & Lighting Project. The money will be used to install sidewalks and lighting along North Locust Street and Morton Avenue.
Webster County: $90,000 was awarded to the town of Cowen for sidewalks along Erbacon Road and Webster Road.
Wetzel County: The Town of Hundred received $100,000 for Phase III of Hundred Sidewalk, which will be used for sidewalks along the right side of US Route 69/Pennsylvania Avenue and Route 250 North to Hamilton Street.
Wood County: $850,000 was given to the City of Parkersburg for Phase I Parkersburg St. Mary’s Avenue, and will be used for new and replacement sidewalks along St. Mary’s Avenue.
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