NEXT PHASE — Area youth play on new equipment at Starvaggi Memorial Park following its rededication in August 2023. The Weirton Board of Parks and Recreation will be moving forward with the third phase of playground improvements later this year. -- File photo

WEIRTON — The Weirton Board of Parks and Recreation will be digging into its savings to complete planned improvements to one of the city’s most used playgrounds.

As part of Thursday’s Park Board meeting, members unanimously agreed to take a portion of the money available from the Millsop Community Center Legacy Trust Fund to address the balance of costs for the third phase of improvements to the Starvaggi Memorial Park playground.

The board previously had been awarded approximately $56,000 by the J.C. Williams Foundation for the project, and board member Doug Finton noted there was a time limit for the grant.

“If we don’t do something, we’ll have to return the money,” Finton said.

Parks Director Coty Shingle, earlier in the year, reported he had received a proposal for $113,000 for the project, which would include replacement of equipment in the area of the existing swing set at the playground.

Other equipment had been replaced in 2023 and 2024.

Shingle noted the options available to the board to complete the project were to either find additional money through fundraising, use the Legacy Trust Fund, or scale down the project to fit within the dollars available.

Board member Ronnie Jones, though, warned costs could increase if the project was pushed back.

“The longer we wait, the more it will cost,” he said.

Shingle estimated there currently is $216,000 available in the Legacy Trust Fund, with the board agreeing to use whatever is needed to pay the balance for the project. Under terms of the Legacy Trust Fund, any decision to use money from the fund has to be unanimous by the full board.

Board member Anthony Capp said, depending on when the contractors could begin work, it could be ready by mid-summer, which would make sure some recreational offerings are available at Starvaggi Park once the pool is closed for its renovations.

In other business, board members noted construction continues on the new restroom facility at Marland Heights Park, with Shingle crediting architect Mark Viola for selecting the restroom’s location as it is clearly visible from the park entrance and has enough space around it for potential expansions as part of future plans.