KINGWOOD – Preston County Parks and Recreation requested funding in the amount of $25,000-$35,000 from the Preston County Commission Tuesday.
Rachelle Thorn, executive director of PCPaR, said the organization’s overhead is more than its revenue when she asked for the support. No action was taken.
Among other items discussed during the meeting, Thorn said PCPaR will hold its first Dirty Double gravel bike race June 5-6 at Rowlesburg Community Park.
According to its Facebook page, the two-day bike race will total 72 miles. The event will also feature camping, Cheat River floats, food. and local live music.
Thorn also gave an update about improvements to rails-to-trails. She said the Tunnelton section of the rail-trail between Tunnelton and Kingwood now has four benches built by Jay Bob Maxwell. She said the cost of the benches was about $2,400, and Masontown’s added benches and picnic tables.
Thorn also talked about the UTV/ATV Country Road Trail. In 2019, Gov. Jim Justice signed legislation that allowed the creation of the Mountaineer Trail in 10 north-central West Virginia counties.
The Mountaineer Trail Network Authority consists of representatives from Barbour, Grant, Harrison, Marion, Mineral, Monongalia, Preston, Randolph, Taylor and Tucker counties.
Commissioner Dave Price asked Thorn if “off-the-road vehicle” could be added to the Mountaineer Trails title.
“It doesn’t say it’s for off-the-road vehicles anywhere,” he said.
Thorn said UTV/ATV is included in its advertising.
She said a survey showed 50% of the people said they rode off-road, 50% said they didn’t, and 75% said they would support the trails.
“Not everyone has access to a place they can ride,” Thorn said.
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