Craig Howell CUTTING THE RIBBON – City officials and more held a brief ceremony Saturday to rechristen the city park on Marland Heights as the Margaret Manson Weir Memorial Park. A free celebration for the community also was offered.

WEIRTON – One of the city’s largest recreational spaces entered a new era Saturday, along with a new name.

Residents, city officials, and guests gathered at Marland Heights Park Saturday, not only to showcase some of the upgrades made there in the last year, but to officially rechristen to space the Margaret Manson Weir Memorial Park.

“We want to take this opportunity to invite everyone back to rediscover this space,” noted Weirton Parks Executive Director Coty Shingle.

The new name is derived from the Margaret Manson Weir Memorial Pool, which had been the focal point of the park from its original construction in 1934 until its demolition in 2022. Built from a design by architect Wesley Bintz, the pool was named in memory of Margaret Manson Weir, the mother of E.T. and David M. Weir, the founders of Weirton Steel.

The pool was closed by the Park Board in 2005, as a result of low attendance and structural concerns. An agreement with the Marland Heights Community Association led to a multi-year effort to raise enough funds to rehabilitate the pool, although that campaign eventually ended without success.

Craig Howell OFFERING THANKS – Weirton Mayor Dean Harris was among those expressing appreciation for those involved in recent updates to the park.

Current Park Board Chair Iris Himmelrick was a leading member of the Community Association.

“It was hard to let that mission go,” Himmelrick said, before adding that she has been able to rededicate her own focus for the park as a member of the Weirton Park Board, working to find a new future for the entire space.

While the pool is gone, the Park Board has continued to look for ways to invest in the park, designing a master plan in recent years, with the first phase including many of the improvements unveiled Saturday. Those include a new restroom facility located where the pool once stood, with a hope to eventually expand the structure to include an all-seasons pavilion. New lighting offers increased security and visibility at the park, with new roofing on the three existing pavilions, paving of the basketball court and walkways also included.

Additional plans include the completion of a governor’s drive to improve vehicular access, the transformation of the tennis court to include space for pickleball and tennis, and the construction of an outdoor fitness court.

“We’re even more excited to see what the future brings,” Himmelrick said.

Craig Howell NEW NAME, NEW FEATURES – Among recent improvements at the park is the construction of a new restroom facility, which now displays the park’s new name.

Credit was given to former Ward 5 Councilwoman Flora Perrone, who pushed for much of the initial project funding through the city’s allotment of American Rescue Plan Act dollars.

“It was a labor of love,” Perrone said. “This is an investment in the future of our community.”

Two allotments of ARPA funds – one for $350,000 and one for $150,000 – were provided for the improvements, according to Shingle, along with $50,000 from the Weirton Rotary Club for the tennis court renovations, and $30,000 from the Park Board itself. Additional anonymous funding also was provided, he said.

Current Ward 5 Councilwoman Brittany Holloway noted the importance of recreational space for a city as a place for families and friends to gather and for community activities, in addition to a green space.

“Parks are more than just playgrounds and fields,” she said.

Craig Howell COMMUNITY FUN – Following the rededication, free activities were offered Saturday afternoon, including refreshments, bounce houses and more.

Holloway also offered thanks to the inaugural class of the Weirton Youth Council, which organized much of Saturday’s festivities.

Shingle expressed appreciation to Weirton Council – both the current and previous administrations – the current sitting members of the Weirton Park Board, as well as former members Deb Witkowski and Edwin J. Bowman.

Mayor Dean Harris said the progress of work at the park is part of planning for the future of Weirton as the community builds a new identity and looks to welcome new residents and businesses.

“This is about the growth of the city,” Harris said.

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)