NEW CUMBERLAND – The Hancock County Commission began a process, Thursday, which could see the dissolution of the county’s Board of Parks and Recreation.

Commissioners voted 2-1 on the first reading of an ordinance “dissolving the Hancock County parks and recreation board of directors,” with Commissioner Tommy Ogden casting the lone dissenting vote.

Commission President Eron Chek explained the proposal, which still must go through a second reading before it can go into effect, is an effort to provide a better administrative flow for the county’s park system.

The county park board oversees the operations of four parks — Clarke Field Playground in Newell, Cove Valley Park along Kings Creek Road north of Weirton, the Gas Valley Sports Complex and Playground in New Cumberland and Lawrenceville Park in Chester.

If finalized, the Park Board would be dissolved June 30, which is the end of the current fiscal year for the county.

A full article will be in Friday’s edition