BEECH BOTTOM - Beech Bottom officials and community members gathered Saturday to celebrate renovations to the village's Hill Street playground with a dedication.
Beech Bottom Councilwoman Becky Uhlly, who with Councilwoman Linda Clelland make up the village's playground committee, said the timing for the project's completion was great, with the work completed in time for summer vacation from school.
"The kids came walking down the street (from school) and saw what had happened," Uhlly said.
She noted the playground's original swing set was kept but its other aging equipment was replaced with a new merry-go-round, climbing bars and a sliding board playset resembling a fort.
Wood chips designed to make the playground's surface safer for children, a picnic table, two benches and two garbage cans also were added to the site.
French drains also were installed along both sides to address runoff from the adjacent hillside.
"It was like a lake last year, there was so much rain," she said.
The crews involved six village staff members and a few others hired for the project, including a local teen who had done work for the village through the Northern Panhandle Workforce Investment Board's summer youth program, Uhlly noted.
In addition, members of the village's Neighborhood Watch program cleaned the hillside and planted flowers along the bank.
Uhlly sad the project was truly a team effort, with several groups involved.
A grant from the Northern Panhandle Resource, Conservation and Development Council, in the amount of $2,500, was secured with the help of Councilman Greg Sheperd. And a state Community Participation Grant, in the amount of $2,500, was secured by Del. Roy Givens, D-Brooke.
The remaining $7,500 cost of the project was paid by Beech Bottom Council under the leadership of Mayor George Lewis.
Uhlly noted council has strived to improve the village's playgrounds in recent years, with new equipment and other improvements also made to the Third Street playground.
The village will hold its annual community picnic at the Third Street playground, across from the Beech Bottom Municipal Building, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. June 23.
The village will provide hot dogs and hamburgers, activities for children from Kurt James Fun and Games and country music by Hank Vincent and Stone Street Station.
Attendees are invited to bring desserts and other dishes but aren't required.
Uhlly said the event offers a nice opportunity for Beech Bottom area residents, past and present, to get together, and everyone is welcome.
(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com)
