Dedication of formerly vacant lot set to take place Sunday
On Sunday, Eaton Park, on the corner of Park and Morris streets in South Park, will be officially dedicated.
“It’s always been a lot and when I was younger we were allowed to play there,” said Adelheid Schaupp. “It’s a park that everyone can use. I wanted to do something for my father, he had an appreciation for green space in the neighborhood.”
Unfortunately, in the early 90s, a kid broke their arm on the property and kids weren’t allowed to use it anymore, Schaupp said. The land was just sort of there, she continued.
Then about two years ago, Schaupp was able to buy the property from its owner, Richard Eaton, with the goal of turning it into a park.
“He really could have profited off that and he decided not to,” she said. “He easily could have gotten two-three times more. It takes a lot for someone to step away from money.”
Schaupp said the location is “perfect” because it’s flat, in a great location and is large enough to support multiple houses.
Eaton said he sold it for what he paid, adding that he’s not a business man.
Running a park isn’t really something an individual can do because of liability issues, so Schaupp approached the City of Morgantown about turning the lot into a park and now leases the land to the city for $10 a year.
“It will not be built on for as long as I own it,” Schaupp said.
Eaton said the name Eaton Park was originally a play on the popular restaurant, Eat’n Park and what the neighborhood kids and their parents used to call the land.
Tim Stephens owns a dog-sitting business and said many of the dogs he walks love Eaton Park. The trees provide shade in the summer and it’s a great spot for them to run around.
On Friday, the park was being enjoyed by Messi, a 2-year-old ball of white fluff.
“All the dogs love it over here,” Stephens said. “It’s small but the fact that it’s right in the neighborhood is nice.”
Schaupp said the “pocket park” concept should get more emphasis because it’s pretty hard to find a large space for a park but individual lots are pretty accessible.
Pocket parks could also be a way to help deal with abandoned and dilapidated houses.
“Maybe people can offer them up (to the city) for a tax write off,” she said.
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