MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The projected $40 million Mountaineer Center is more than just an investment in Morgantown, according to Monongalia County Commissioner Tom Bloom.
“There’s four major groups,” Bloom said. “I can’t say enough about Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust, who has given the largest donation they’ve ever given. We’ll have WVU, the County Commission, and the Mylan Park Foundation.”
Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust provided a $15 million donation for this project. WVU also chipped in $12 million. But Bloom says this project, when finished, will offer residents of the county something very unique.
“When the community is used to using WVU facilities, they either own it or it’s on their property,” Bloom said. “This is neither.”
He said that will allow for a larger say for area residents on what type of programs will be offered when the facility isn’t in use by local and regional schools or by West Virginia University athletics.
“That means that it’s the community and Mylan Park that has it, and then we will buy in time,” Bloom said. “So WVU, right now, is not going to make all the decisions or run it. Now will they have an important part of it? Oh, yes.”
Similar to the athletic complex just south of Morgantown in Bridgeport, Bloom said he envisions a scenario where schools from out-of-state will want to bring their business to what’s expected to be a regional leader in track and field and aquatics.
“I’m ecstatic,” Bloom said. “We are already starting to get calls from high schools in mid-central Pennsylvania saying, ‘well when’s it open up?'”
This is part of the County Commission’s long-term strategy to offer greater appeal to businesses who may want to relocate in Monongalia County, according to Bloom. In the past, Bloom says, businesses had relayed to Commission their lack of interest in relocating to Monongalia County due to “limited offerings for recreational opportunities.”
“Businesses would not consider us and they would look at other locations,” Bloom said. “Now that we are starting to develop this as a community, we are now able to go back to those businesses and sit down and say, ‘Look what we’re offering. We’d like you to be here, and look where our location is.'”
The first portion of Mountaineer Center, the track and field facility, is expected to open in Fall 2018. The aquatics center is expected to open in Spring 2019.