CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The future of a Kanawha County park will be in the hands of the county’s commission during a Tuesday meeting.
The Kanawha County Commission will hold a public hearing on redeveloping Shawnee Park into a multi-sports complex, before voting on a plan on whether to move forward with the project.
The estimated $15.2 million plan would involve reconfiguring the park to host local and regional youth sports tournaments. Some sports that could be played at the park include football, soccer and baseball.
A 2015 report from the National Association of Sports Commissions stated Kanawha County would be an ideal location for a compound because it is within a “day’s trip” for two-thirds of the American population. Shawnee Park in Dunbar was specifically located because of its flat landscape.
In a statement, Kanawha County Commissioner Ben Salango said this park will give communities a chance to capitalize on the “eight billion dollars per year youth sports tourism market.”
“In addition to travel tourism, the complex will be available for all of Kanawha County youth sports teams to enjoy throughout the year,” Salango said.
The project would come with drawbacks for park regulars; the Shawnee Park golf course would be removed. The golf course is a favorite among local golfers because of terrain and low costs.
“My concern is it’s going to be a boondoggle in the long run,” said Richard Shell of Hurricane, during a May 16 open house at West Virginia State University.
Shawnee Park is located next to the campus.
Dow Chemical has also agreed to pay for an independent groundwater testing under the park after the university announced it was suing the company for contaminated water under the institution.
The public comment hearing will go from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kanawha County Commission Courtroom. The commission will further discuss the proposal and vote on the project at 5 p.m.