INSTITUTE, W.Va. — The Kanawha County Commission held an open house Wednesday to further discuss plans to renovate Shawnee Park into a multi-sports complex.
The event was at the Walker Convocation Center at West Virginia State University. Attendees were allowed to speak to the three members of the Kanawha County Commission as well as other local officials.
The Kanawha County Parks and Recreation Commission is scheduled to vote on the park at its monthly meeting Wednesday.
The proposed plan involved redesigning the Dunbar park into a complex with multiple artificial turf and grass fields for soccer, football, lacrosse and baseball games. The fields would be collegiate size, allowing for local and regional youth sports tournaments to be held there in addition to local functions.
As part of the project, the park’s golf course would be removed.
According to a February 2015 report from the National Association of Sports Commissions, Kanawha County would be an ideal location for a facility because of its location; two-thirds of the American population lives within a “day’s trip” to the region.
“This is an economic driver for Kanawha County, and it’s also great for the kids and the residents of Institute and Dunbar,” Kanawha County Commissioner Ben Salango said.
Salango said the estimated cost of the park is $15.2 million.
A new master site plan was on display, but it only had minor differences from the map originally put forward at an April 5 public hearing. One proposed parking lot was completely removed, and a second lot was shrunk from 979 spaces to 677.
Additionally, only main “main event” field would have bleachers and lights compared to the original proposed two. The new plan also shows possible designs for a football field, compared to the first plan which only included soccer field layouts.
Richard Shell of Hurricane, said he plays at the Shawnee Park golf course “four to five” times a week because it is not as difficult to walk compared to other local golf courses. He mentioned while the plan sounds nice, it does not solve the county’s larger problems like population decline.
“My concern is it’s going to be a boondoggle in the long run,” he said. “(Charleston) is not a destination location.”
Retired Maj. Gen. Allen E. Tackett of the parks commission said while he personally enjoys golfing at the park, this project will benefit younger generations.
“If had to choose between me playing golf there and kids having a place to play soccer, baseball and softball, then I, in turn, want to do what’s right for our kids,” Tackett said of his position.
The open house comes after Dow Chemical would fund independent groundwater testing at Shawnee Park. West Virginia State University, which is next to Shawnee Park, announced April 27 it is suing the company for contaminated groundwater under its campus.
Salango said if there are issues that arise from the test results, it will require additional procedures.
He said the park would likely be paid for through bonds and grants.
The Kanawha County Commission is expected to vote at its May 25 meeting on whether or not to go forward with the redevelopment.