INWOOD, W.Va. — A former sheriff who made a fortune with a Powerball win continues to be a benefactor to his community. Berkeley County Magistrate Randy Smith’s name is now on the side of a brand new recreation center in the Inwood community.
“We have been trying to build a new rec center in the south end of the county for a number of years now,” said Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks and Recreation Director Steve Catlett. “We were able to sell him on funding this new rec center in the south end of Berkeley County.”
The money for the new facility was channeled through the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation. Smith, through the foundation, contributed 2.1 Million dollars to the project. The final price tag was 2.3 Million.
“Without his support and funding the project doesn’t become a reality,” Catlett said.
The new facility sits on property of the Berkeley County School Board on the campus of Musselman High School. Catlett said they worked closely with the board in the design and planning. The facility is built with room to grow.
“We have a rec facility in Martinsburg built in 2002 and we’ve tripled the size of it since we opened,” Catlett said. “This one is built so in the future when funding becomes available it will be able to expand.”
Catlett said the facility is sorely needed in the area as a quality of life amenity. South Berkeley is the fastest growing part of Berkeley County. Catlett said a lot of people, particularly children and teenagers will enjoy many benefits from the new recreation center.
It’s one of a number of community charities Smith has funded with his Powerball winnings over the last two years.