Latest news with #RickShowalter
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
City officials still hopeful of having splash pad ready for Memorial Day
bluefield — With the long Memorial Day weekend fast approaching, many area families will be looking for outdoor activities to enjoy. Some of those outdoor attractions can be found at Bluefield's Lotito Park, including the Ridge Runner, the new 40-yard dash, the city's new playground and the new splash pad. However, there is still a question as to whether or not the splash pad will be ready in time for Memorial Day weekend. Rick Showalter, director of parks and recreation for the city, said officials would still like to see the splash pad open by Memorial Day weekend. But there is still work to be finished between now and then. 'Our goal was that and still is to open on Memorial Day weekend,' Showalter said Tuesday while providing a project update to members of the Bluefield Board of Directors. 'However, we've had some setbacks. I'm sure that (the opening) is going to happen and we will announce in the future what that date will be.' Showalter said there is still some work to be done, including the installation of a perimeter fence around the splash pad. That work is expected to begin next week. Showalter said training also is underway for staff. 'We are presently interviewing for staff to run the concessions and ticket sales for the summer,' Showalter said. 'We plan a ribbon cutting in the future, a grand ribbon cutting, and that will be announced based on when we know exactly when we can do that.' A generator is currently being used by the city to provide temporary power until work on a transformer can be completed, Curtis French, director of public works for the city, told the board Tuesday. The new splash pad was made possible with funding support from the Shott Foundation along with grant funding from the West Virginia Land and Water Conservation Agency, according to Showalter. The city's original plan was to have the splash pad and the Ridge Runner operational by Memorial Day weekend at the park. One week later, or on Friday, May 31, the James H. Drew carnival also will open at city park as the 2025 edition of the Cole Chevy Mountain Festival gets underway. The Cole Chevy Mountain Festival will continue for 10 days through Sunday, June 8. One new addition that won't be ready for Memorial Day weekend, or this summer, is the new multi-purpose building, which is planned adjacent to the splash pad. It will serve multiple functions, including as a concession area where snacks can be purchased and as a designated location for a splash pad attendant. The new facility also would include four new restroom facilities that would also serve as changing room areas for those who utilize the new splash pad. Work on the multi-purpose facility won't begin until the fall with a goal of having it open for the 2026 season. According to a legal advertisement that appeared recently in the Daily Telegraph, the city is seeking requests for proposals from qualified manufacturing firms to construct the new multi-purpose building. All proposals for the project are due back at city hall by 4 p.m. on June 12. The bids would then be opened on June 13. According to the request for proposals, the building will serve multiple functions, including housing four restrooms, (that will also function as changing rooms for those who use the splash pad), a concession area for snacks, and a designated space for the splash pad gate attendant. The facility will be located at the newly constructed splash pad and would be operational primarily during the splash pad season. Work on the new multi-purpose facility would begin in the fall after the park attractions are closed for the season. That way construction won't be occurring in the area while children enjoy the splash pad, Showalter said in an earlier interview. Contact Charles Owens at cowens@
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Ridge Runner on track for May opening
bluefield — It was a year ago when the historic Ridge Runner made its last one-mile lap for the season around Lotito Park. Since that time the park has been hit with both the remnants of a hurricane and a flood five months later. Hurricane Helene toppled thousands of trees across the two-state region last September, many of which fell at city park. Five months later the park also was impacted by the Feb. 15 flood. Repairs to the railroad tracks at city park are continuing with the goal of having the Ridge Runner operational by Memorial Day weekend, according to Bluefield Parks and Recreation Director Rick Showalter. 'We are actually just now finishing up repairs from Helene on the railroad tracks,' Showalter said. A meeting was held two weeks ago with parks and recreation staff to plan for the train's reopening on Memorial Day weekend. 'That's our plan,' Showalter said. 'We've hired train drivers and the staff at the depot for ticket sales. We have a mechanic who has on the punch list the engine to make sure it is in good shape.' The goal is to finish all of the track repairs so that the train will be ready for late May. 'Public works has been working on the tracks,' Showalter said. 'It wasn't just the wind. There was water too. They've been working on that. So everyone is in the loop and working toward that goal.' Each summer the miniature train transports visitors across city park on a mile-long trip that includes two bridges, a tunnel and a train depot. In May of 2023, the train was down for the entire season after another flood hit the Bluefield area — this time on Memorial Day — also causing widespread damage to the railroad tracks at the time. The historic train has a long a history with Nature's Air-Conditioned City that dates back to 1964. At that time, a private corporation brought the Ridge Runner to the East River Mountain Overlook as part of a larger plan to develop the mountaintop into a major tourist attraction, according to the city's online narrative of the train's history. For a period of time the train was a big hit on the mountain drawing visitors and tourists to the area. However, with the completion of Interstate 77 in 1976, and the opening of the East River and Big Walker tunnels, the volume of traffic over the mountain was significantly reduced, and the attraction faded away with little fanfare. The city briefly relaunched the Ridge Runner in 1984, but with limited revenues as well as increasing maintenance costs, it didn't last long. At that point the train was stored away. It was resurrected again in 2011 after a controversial proposal by former City Manager Andy Merriman to decommission the train was met with overwhelming community opposition. That led to the creation of the Save the Ridge Runner committee and ultimately got the little train back on track at Lotito Park where it continues to operate each summer. Thousands of visitors to city park now ride the train each year. In more recent years, the iconic train has also shared its name with a wooden bat league baseball team at Bowen Field and with the new Ridge Runner Fun Zone at Lotito Park. Contact Charles Owens at cowens@
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bluefield seeks bids for concession stand, changing facilities, at city park
bluefield — The city of Bluefield is seeking proposals for the design and construction of a new multi-purpose building at Lotito Park that would serve multiple functions, including as a concession area where snacks can be purchased and as a designated location for a splash pad attendant. The new facility also would include four new restroom facilities that would also serve as changing room areas for those who utilize the new splash pad. That splash pad is currently under construction at city park, and officials would like to see it ready by Memorial Day weekend, Rick Showalter, director of parks and recreation for the city, said. 'We haven't put out a definite opening, but that is our goal,' Showalter said of the splash pad. 'We have been working toward it for some time now. Of course, weather is always a factor.' Work on the multi-purpose facility won't begin until the fall with a goal of having it open for the 2026 season. According to a legal advertisement in the Daily Telegraph, the city is seeking requests for proposals from qualified manufacturing firms to construct the new multi-purpose building. All proposals for the project are due back at city hall by 4 p.m. on June 12. The bids would then opened on June 13. According to the request for proposals, the building will serve multiple functions, including housing four restrooms, (that will also function as changing rooms for those who use the splash pad), a concession area for snacks, and a designated space for the splash pad gate attendant. The facility will be located at the newly constructed splash pad and would be operational primarily during the splash pad season. With the splash pad opening this summer, Showalter said officials don't want construction on the new multi-purpose facility ongoing while the splash pad is in use. That's why work on that project won't begin until the fall or early next year. 'We would do the work in the fall after closing up for the season or before we open up the park in March 2026,' Showalter said. Although the splash pad will be opening this summer without the new concession stand area and restroom changing area, Showalter said the existing restroom facilities at city park were recently renovated and are close to the playground area. Once the new multi-purpose facility is open, Showalter said visitors to the park would be able to purchase snacks and drinks there. The Shott Foundation provided funding for a portion of the splash pad project, and the city also was awarded a grant from the West Virginia Land and Water Conservation fund for the project. Showalter said an ongoing fundraising effort is continuing with the Community Foundation of the Virginias to ensure the successful completion of the three-phase project, which includes the new concession stand and bathroom facility. 'There is an ongoing fundraising drive with the Community Foundation of the Virginias,' Showalter said. 'And they are receiving donations for the splash pad development.' According to the Community Foundation of the Virginias website, those who wish to support the splashpad project at Lotito Park can write a check to the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc., and in the memo line of the check should indicate that the donation is for the playground and splashpad at Lotito Park. Ever since the new playground opened earlier this spring, the city has seen large crowds at city park. 'Absolutely, the parking lots are full,' Showalter said. 'It's amazing on the weekends, and as we move into the summer it is only going to get busier.' Contact Charles Owens at cowens@
