WEIRTON — Plans for an update to the city’s Comprehensive Development Plan are set to include the Weirton Board of Parks and Recreation.

The Park Board was approached Thursday by Mayor Dean Harris and Planning and Development Director Mark Miller to explain the plans and seek support from the board. Under the proposal, the Comprehensive Plan would be updated, along with the creation of a Downtown Revitalization Plan and a Master Plan for Parks and Recreation.

“A consultant would come in and do all three at once,” Miller said.

Miller noted, typically, a comprehensive plan is updated every 10 years, and Weirton’s wouldn’t be due until 2028, but the city feels now is a good time to put together a new guiding document.

“There’s certainly been enough significant changes,” Miller said. “I think we can justify doing it a little early.”

Parks Director Coty Shingle noted the Parks Board had been approached in 2016 about having a master plan developed, but the board, at the time, opted to forego such a project, which would have cost $21,000 a decade ago.

To cover the recreation portion of the project now, Miller said, the city needs a buy-in of approximately $35,000 from the Park Board. Another $15,000 would come from Community Development Block Grant allocations. Costs for the Downtown Revitalization Plan and Comprehensive Plan update would come from the city’s general fund.

Harris said it is important for some planning to be done for the city’s downtown area, with an eye toward encouraging growth, noting ideas from a previous revitalization plan performed during his previous term as mayor.

“They looked at Cove and Main as kind of the hub, and everything spoked out from there,” Harris said.

Harris agreed the Parks system is an important component in planning for the community’s future, saying information about local recreation often is one of the top things discussed by businesses looking to come into the area.

He said having an outside group, with little to no connection to Weirton, looking at options for the city could have benefits when it comes to creating a focus.

“We all, having lived in the city, have tunnel vision,” Harris said.

Shingle noted, though, there also would be opportunities for public input.

“One of the most important parts of this process is public meetings and stakeholder input,” Shingle said.

Miller explained his hope is to begin advertising for the project sometime in January, with proposals due in February. From there, a selection committee would be formed to decide on a consultant.