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WEIRTON -- City Council held off on taking action Monday on a proposed resolution which would have allocated much of the city's remaining American Rescue Plan Act funding toward improvements at one of Weirton's major parks.
Weirton Council was set to consider a resolution to allocate approximately $260,000 in ARPA dollars to fund the planned first phase of capital improvements at Marland Heights Park, but the resolution was tabled through a motion by Ward 5 Councilwoman Flora Perrone who also had sponsored the resolution.
"It's been requested by several councilmembers that we have further discussion," said Perrone, who was among several members of council and city administrators participating in Monday's meeting remotely from Charleston while attending an event with the West Virginia Municipal League.
During discussion Monday, council scheduled a work session for 6:30 p.m., Feb. 22 at the Weirton Municipal Building. The work session will be open to the public.
A draft of the Marland Heights Comprehensive Capital Improvement Plan included an estimated cost of between $430,000 and $600,000 for Phase 1, featuring the construction of a new, all-season shelter facility, infrastructure upgrades to support potential future expansion and improvements, landscaping and improvements to the park's walkways and other hard surfaces, new lighting and a new pickleball court. The plan, as had been presented, had three phases of projects.
Recent discussions, in the event any of those projects can't be started this year, have focused on the installation of new public restroom facilities.
Perrone's resolution specified projects to include handicap accessible restroom facilities, sidewalk repairs, playground enhancements and a pavilion to be dedicated in memory of the Margaret Manson Weir Memorial Pool, which was demolished in December 2022.
The resolution also specified "the hiring of vendors that are able to complete the said improvements by December 31, 2024."
Any funds for the project beyond the $260,000 allocation from council would be the responsibility of the Weirton Board of Parks and Recreation.
In a related matter, residents Karen Gould and Cindy Parker addressed council with concerns about the current state of Marland Heights Park, encouraging council to move forward on some form of upgrades.
"We are determined it will be a beautiful park again," Parker said, alluding to issues with people using the hillside "as a restroom."
Claiming potential liability and safety issues, arising from the pool's demolition, Gould urged action from council to move forward on the renovations this spring.
"This is a city park. It's not a Marland Heights park," she said. "I can see it from my home. I don't have to walk out the door. I don't have to go down the street. So I know, and I want you to know, there is a very rare time when there are no children there."
Councilmembers George Ash and Chris Jonczak asked if the safety issues are that bad, should the city consider closing the park. Gould said no.
"I don't know how you could close it," she said.