MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – All sides have agreed to an change in the White Park License Agreement for reclamation work following construction of a raw watermain. Morgantown, the Morgantown Utility Board and BOPARC have agreed to change the original trail route recommended by the designer and adds a competitive bidding process to complete the tree replanting.
“Morgantown City Council, BOPARC and MUB are all very excited to have this project bid out and installed in the very near future,” said Mayor Jenny Selin. “We look to make this trail and tree planting an example of the public good that can be accomplished when we all work together.”
The agreement will now be considered by Morgantown City Council.
“We’re happy to have the addendum complete and are comfortable with the compromises reached in finalizing it,” said Morgantown Utility Board Chair J.T. Straface. “The process reflects well on the commitment of MUB, BOPARC and the City of Morgantown in serving local residents. After all, the benefactors of these combined efforts are not our organizations but the entire Morgantown area.”
The Addendum addresses two primary concerns that arose since the signing of the White Park License Agreement in 2019. The first, was that the initial design of the trail that was in the 2019 License Agreement needed adjustment. This was determined once MUB had completed its work and the terrain was inspected. With the assistance of a trail designer and guidance from the West Virginia University Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative, adjustments were made to the original trail to accommodate the site. Second, the Morgantown Tree Board recommended replanting trees over an extended period of time due to the number of trees involved and necessity for finding appropriate locations. The Addendum calls for the replacement of the trees to be competitively bid out to ensure the best price and allow replanting to occur over time.
“As a community member I am thrilled to see our agreement with MUB moving forward,” said BOPARC Board Member
Rachel Fetty. “BOPARC has worked hard to ensure the outcome of this development serves the needs and the hopes of our patrons. Approval of this agreement will honor the value of White Park as a critical resource for our neighbors and a cornerstone for local recreational development.”