MORGANTOWN — If you’ve ever wanted a chance to influence the direction of parks and recreation in Morgantown, now’s your chance.
The Morgantown Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners (BOPARC) has two spots on it’s all volunteer board, Patrick Hathaway, president, said during its most recent regular meeting.
“I wanted to join the board because I really value parks,” Jenny Selin, board member and city councilor, said. “It’s where my grandchild plays, where my husband walks the dog, where my kids when they were young would go to the pools.”
Selin has been a BOPARC board member for three years and said she enjoys helping to make Morgantown better.
The board is responsible for hiring a person to run BOPARC, adopting a year budget, voting on policies, and supporting BOPARC’s mission of: “providing a quality system of parks, trails facilities and programs that enchance our community and the well-being of our residents” Melissa Wiles, executive director, said.
Some board members serve on extra committees, but Wiles said board members are only required to attend the monthly BOPARC meeting.
Selin said she attends a lot of BOPARC events to see what the how many people attend, if the facility helps the event and how facilities can be improved to support events better.
Board members must be residents of Morgantown and appointed by the city council, who vote on applicants after an interview, Wiles said. Applications can be found at Morgantown.gov/210/volunteer-opportunities.
Appointments last for six years and are unpaid positions, she said.
“It’s a really exciting time in Morgantown because we’re putting more energy and more funding into our parks,” Selin said. “Whoever chooses to apply for these positions will really have a chance to contribute to our future.”
Wiles said the board members are important to the well-being of the organization and park system. Applicants should be people who care about BOPARC and the community as a whole, she said.
“Specific passions and projects are admirable but we, as an administration, hope for members that can see beyond their possible person passions and consider the long-term future of BOPARC and the community when working toward goals and objectives,” Wiles said.
Experience in parks and recreation, municipal government or public administration are helpful, but not required as a board member, she said.
Selin said she’s learned a lot about planning processes and how plans come together since she joined BOPARC and that she continues to learn new things as she meets with other board members and consultants.
