MEETING — The Weirton Board of Parks and Recreation gathered Thursday at Starvaggi Memorial Park for its regular monthly meeting. Pictured, from left, are board Chair Edwin J. Bowman, Parks Director Coty Shingle, and board members William Curenton and Iris Himmelrick. (Photo by Craig Howell)

WEIRTON — The Weirton Park Board discussed Thursday the progress of reopening its facilities, along with plans for some of its future events.

The board met at Starvaggi Memorial Park, with officials reaffirming their decision to not open Starvaggi Pool for this summer as a result of ongoing concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parks Executive Director Coty Shingle noted that, while guidance from Gov. Jim Justice has increased allowable crowd sizes from 25 to 100 people, the board doesn’t feel it is feasible to have the pool open with such limitations.

“It’s not equitable. It’s not fair,” Shingle said, noting in previous summers the pool has sold 400 passes for a single day.

Such crowd limitations also would result in pool supervisors limiting the amount of time patrons could stay at the pool, something Shingle said would be difficult to manage.

“When did you go to a swimming pool and spend less than an hour?” he said.

This week, the board announced it would resume rental of the shelters at both Starvaggi Memorial Park and Marland Heights Park.

The Millsop Community Center also is back in operation, using its summer schedule.

“It hasn’t been what you would call normal activity,” Shingle said, noting usage has been between 150 and 200 a day, compared to a typical 300 patrons.

As part of its reopening, the Millsop Community Center has instituted social distancing and mask regulations, as well as requiring anyone going in to sign a waiver. There is a 25-person limit in the pool, and limitations placed on all other exercise and activity rooms.

“We haven’t been close to an occupancy limit in any room,” he said, explaining he feels most patrons are self-monitoring while using the facility.

Board member Mike Adams said he has been inside the center on multiple occasions in recent weeks, and has been encouraged to see residents there.

“It was like old times,” Adams said.

Programs Director Chris Krishak announced he is planning for the annual Marland Heights 5K race to be held Aug. 14.

“Obviously, it’s going to be different this year,” Krishak said, explaining there are plans to use multiple shelters at Marland Heights Park, have pre-packaged food for the after-race picnic, and encourage online pre-registration.

Krishak noted he would begin seeking sponsors next week, with a goal of raising approximately $3,000.

In other business, the board approved a nomination for Edwin J. Bowman to serve another term as board chair. Bowman also congratulated board member William Curenton for his recent reappointment to the board.

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)