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While there has been much attention in the last year to discussions by the Weirton Board of Parks and Recreation and Weirton Council on what is and isn't needed in the city's recreational offerings, it has been nice to see some investment from outside of city government taking place.
Last month, representatives of the Mon Power/First Energy Green Team unveiled a partnership with Weirton Parks, kicking off their efforts with the planting of various trees and shrubs -- including flowering dogwood, silky dogwood, red bud, yellow birch, Canadian serviceberry, shrubby St. John's wort, Franklin tree, sweetspire shrub and sweetbay magnolia -- at Marland Heights Park, the Oakland Avenue field and a site on Bennett Drive.
They followed it up by distributing more than 100 saplings to residents the next day, and, last Friday, Green Team members were back, helping with mowing and other cleanup needs around the shelters at Starvaggi Memorial Park.
Mon Power isn't the only group helping out.
Members of the 2024 Class of Leadership Ohio Valley recently were at Marland Heights Park, offering their services to mow and trim grass, rake leaves, wash playground equipment and more.
The work was part of the annual program, organized through the Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce, which requires participants to organize and implement a project in service to the community.
Those who serve on the Weirton Park Board oversee the operation and maintenance of about a dozen recreational sites throughout the city, from Starvaggi and Marland Heights parks to the Millsop Community Center and the Panhandle Recreational Trail and a variety of neighborhood playgrounds.
They also, unfortunately, are limited by staffing and funding as to what they are able to do on a regular basis.
We know not everyone is able to purchase new playground equipment, or help to build new facilities, but there is something each of us can do.
By making sure we clean up after ourselves while using the parks, we can all contribute to keeping them enjoyable for everyone.
If you want to do more, there are opportunities. Contact the Weirton Parks Department to see how you can help, either through an organized cleanup effort, donation or other means.
Recreation is an important aspect of every community, and the cleaner and more vibrant our spaces are, the better it will be for everyone.