Early phases of Laurel Park nearing completion

NEWELL - Walking trails at Newell's Laurel Park, which is in the process of being restored after sitting vacant for many years, have been cleared and are now usable, said Hancock County Commission president Dan Greathouse.

"It's going to be a nice place of beauty and solitude in Newell," said Greathouse.

Phases I and II at the park, which include remaking the trails and restoring a bridge across the park's creek, should be completed in the next 10 days, Greathouse said, adding that there will be some kind of ceremony to officially reopen the park. The Wells family will also be given the opportunity to rename the park at that time.

At Thursday's commission meeting, Greathouse said that the trails are also still in the process of being covered with slag.

Newell Improvement Coalition member Laura Null also informed the commission that on Saturday, a representative of the Fawcett Foundation will be coming to walk through the park so that the foundation, which received $200,000 from the estate of Robert M. Wells for the improvement of Newell, can consider donating to assist with the restoration.

Greathouse said the foundation has also requested some kind of written plan for what would be done to improve the park in the future, adding that no such plans have formalized and that everything done in the park so far has already been paid for. Greathouse said the commission should set a meeting with the coalition and the citizens of Newell to get community input on the park's future.

"I think we need to take our time and plan," said commissioner Jeff Davis.

Null also asked the commission who would be in control of overseeing what is done to the park and if they intended to set up some kind of committee for that purpose.

"There has to be some kind of governing body," said commissioner Mike Swartzmiller.

While there are no official written plans for the park's future, the coalition has discussed potential improvements. Coalition member Beverly Enochs said the park's flower garden has been reassembled with all the original stones and pillars and that the coalition hopes to have the stones cleaned and begin planting the garden again in the spring. Enochs said the bear den at the park, which was the site of a zoo many years ago, is also still intact and that plans are being discussed as to what can be done with that area.

Formal entrances at both ends of the park, incorporating original stonework, are also being discussed, as is an overlook erected above the park for those who are unable to walk the trails. "We want all citizens to be able to enjoy the park and reminisce about their memories of days past," said Enochs.

Enochs said that the coalition is anxious to begin work on Phase III next spring and that anyone who is interested in helping is welcome to attend the coalition's meetings, which are announced in The Review. "We are very excited to see the progress and we want to invite people to visit the park and enjoy its natural beauty," said Enochs. "Most people will be surprised to see this little park which sits in the middle of our small town. We would like to share it with the hope that people will enjoy it as much as we do."

Enochs said the coalition is also looking for original photographs of the park, as well as the whereabouts of any of the items that were originally located in the park. "We are very interested about the original fountain that was in the park, as well as anything else that may have been removed many years ago. We are hoping that someone in the area may have information for us," said Enochs, adding that anyone with photos or information is asked to contact herself at 304-387-1935, Laura Null at 304-387-9881, or any member of the Newell Improvement Coalition.

In other business, the Hancock County Commission:

Heard from Rick Jones of the Hancock County Firefighters Association, who thanked all the firefighters who assisted with Sunday's wind storm. "They all left their homes and families not knowing what they were coming home to," said Jones, adding that the Hancock County Sheriff's Office "went above and beyond the call of duty getting us what we needed."

Approved a resolution to name the week of Sept. 21 as Resource Conservation and Development Week.

Announced that the dog warden's office has been relocated from Gas Valley Road to the county courthouse. They can now be reached by phone at 304-564-3311 x292.

Approved a request to transfer $10,900 to the Hancock County Parks and Recreation account for immediate payment to keep prices at a minimum for seeding the new soccer fields.