Environment, Open Space
and RecreationEnvironment, Open Space
and Recreation
An integrated system of hiking/ biking trails, which follows the County's stream valleys, has been created through the Rails to Trails program and the newly adopted, official Trails Plan which enables users to walk/ bike from downtown Morgantown to the outskirts of the County. The trails have been a joint public/ private effort involving easement purchase, right-of-way dedication, and the use of innovative development policies, such as transfer of development rights. The establishment of County planning has also enabled the effort. West Virginia University has also assisted by granting trail easements through the University farm. The expanded trail system has brought many visitors to the area to enjoy its scenic beauty and bicycling enthusiasts enjoy the Annual Spring Bike Tours/ Races.
Canoeists and kayakers are enjoying the cleaned-up Decker's Creek, which provides some of the best whitewater in the area. The cleanup effort, which involved voluntary measures from industry, improved septic systems, sediment and erosion control standards, and strong land use policies adjacent to the Creek, has really paid off.
Recreation opportunities have also been expanded at Cheat Lake, which has been tied into the overall trails network. Coopers Rock State Forest is still a top attraction since the view shed has been protected through the adoption of creative planning measures, including the Transfer of Development Rights by the State and County.
Local residents have also been pleased by the addition of several smaller neighborhood parks and playgrounds, which have been added to the BOPARC system. The addition of street standards and sidewalk requirements within the City has also helped to encourage pedestrian use and handicapped accessibility.
Recycling has expanded within the county, and is reducing the need for new landfill space. The new soccer/ lacrosse fields have increased interest in those sports. The new recreational center has proved popular with teenagers, and the central coordination of volunteer groups by BOPARC has helped get more people involved in volunteer maintenance and management, and has saved money for BOPARC. BOPARC has also been assisted with expanded funding from the county for its new integrated county-wide parks system.
This element of the Comprehensive Plan provides guidance for the enhancement of active and passive recreation opportunities and the enhancement of the natural environment.
BOPARC operates the Morgantown park facilities and programs. BOPARC also operates a senior center. The City's main parks are Krepps, Marilla, and White. Smaller neighborhood parks are King Street, Whitemoore, Jack Robert's, Hazel McQuain, MEA Fishing Pier, South University Avenue and Jerome as well as the Suncrest Mini Park.
Recreational features include two pools (one each at Krepps and Marilla Parks), tennis courts at Marilla Park, ballfields at White and Marilla Parks, a skate park at Marilla, an ice arena at White Park and pavilions at each park.
BOPARC and the schools have an informal arrangement which allows each agency to use the other's recreation facilities. This is an unwritten agreement and no fees are exchanged.
No public agency has oversight of trails, environmentally-sensitive areas, or passive open spaces. These open spaces represent important resources and their protection is essential to enhancing the quality of life in Morgantown. Morgantown has large areas of steeps slopes, ill-suited for development. Steep slope protection is now not codified and these sensitive environmental areas are vulnerable.
There are many issues related to this functional area which tie into other functional areas such as transportation, land use planning, retail revitalization, and targeted employment. The following issues are identified as important to this functional area and some may also be mentioned in other areas:
• The City has less than 300 acres of public park land, a very limited amount for a City of more than 25,000 people.
• There is a great deal of public apathy concerning the need for, and preservation of, environmental resources and green space.
• There is a shortage of bicycle and walking paths in the City.
• Bike path and pedestrian linkages between neighborhoods and main recreational areas are lacking.
• There is a limited amount of readily available and accessible green space.
• Neighborhood playgrounds at closed school sites need to be maintained at those locations.
• There is no need for a citywide recreation center.
• There is a lack of recreational facilities, and parks and recreational opportunities are not evenly distributed throughout the City with many areas lacking services for all residents, including children, teenagers, senior citizens, and the handicapped.
Goal A. A diversity of park and recreational activities for community residents.
Objective A1. Develop a City-owned recreational center.
Strategies
A1a. Based on results from the survey of residents to identify desired recreational opportunities, include the most commonly mentioned facilities in the new City recreational center or in other existing facilities.
Objective A2. Develop new and expanded parks that offer, as feasible, multiple-use facilities.
Strategies
A2a. Based upon periodic surveys of citizens, prepare implementation plans for facilities and programs at existing and new parks.
A2b. Prepare a finance program to maintain and expand recreation facilities, including fees, donations, sponsorship, and governmental support at a minimum.
Objective A3. Provide neighborhood green space and recreation areas within walking distance of residents.
Strategies
A3a. Identify public and private properties that may be opportunity sites to serve neighborhood residents' needs and prepare an analysis of each site.
A3b. Develop and promote minimum recreational and open space standards for both single and multi-family development.
Goal B. Joint involvement of public entities in planning of open space, recreation, and environmental protection.
Objective B1. Identify opportunities for multiple benefits.
Strategies
B1a. Obtain participation of the County, WVU, nearby cities, and the County School Board to work with BOPARC and citizen volunteers, advising and promoting improvements in recreation, open space, and environmental efforts.
Goal C. A countywide open space/greenway plan emphasizing pedestrian linkages.
Objective C1. Promote long term economic benefits through enhanced quality of life provisions.
Strategies
C1a. Develop policies on open space, recreation, and environmental issues related to residents' quality-of-life values.
C1b. Promote the policies on open space, recreation, and environmental issues as implementation of the Comprehensive Development Plan occurs.
Objective C2. Develop unused public lands for public open space and/or recreation.
Strategies
C2a. Identify public lands and evaluate and classify them for various potential types of public use (Rights-of-way, vacant lots, etc.).
C2b. Prepare a summary report, for administrative and public use, with recommendations for alternative uses.
Goal D. An integrated network of ecologically valuable land and surface waters for present and future residents to use, enjoy and protect.
Objective D1. Identify sites in the city/region for preservation, restoration, and enhancement within the major natural systems and stream valleys: the Monongahela River, Cobun Creek/ White Park, Deckers Creek, Falling Run, Tibbs Run, and West Run.
Strategies
D1a. Develop specific plans for each area, based upon site analysis and relevant criteria.
D1b. Develop tree protection and sediment and erosion control requirements as part of a public facilities manual for new development.
D1c. Develop a manual for preservation and enhancement of existing natural systems and vegetation which maintain water quality.
D1d. Seek cooperation and assistance from the county, nearby municipalities, and the WV-DNR in adoption and enforcement of soil erosion and sediment control measures throughout the county.
Goal E: High quality (fishable, swimmable) water for the Monongahela River and lakes, creeks, and stream valleys.
Objective E1. Develop Environmental Protection Corridors (EPC) which represent critical environmental open space areas that provide environmental benefits.
Strategies
E1a. Identify and survey EPC areas for flood plain/wetland protection, habitat quality, connectedness, recreational opportunities, and pollution reduction capabilities.
E1b. Evaluate local review of proposed septic systems, and identify non-conforming/failing septic systems.
E1c. Identify Acid Mine Drainage sites that currently have a negative effect on water quality, and seek to coordinate efforts of public and private parties to implement treatment measures.
E1d. Develop a manual on storm water management policies that promote Best Management Practices (BMP's) minimizing the amount of impervious surfacing in developments, utilization of on-site detention/retention to reduce flooding, and the use of water quality measures for new developments.
Goal F. Tree cover on developed sites, and developing sites, as well as sites where it is absent prior to well development.
Objective F1. Adopt hillside protection measures that will prevent damage or loss of life due to development of steep slopes and areas of unstable soils.
Strategies
F1a. Form a citizens' group within the county to examine the problems and issues that affect residents in the absence of adopted measures which would guide property owners and developers on how to avoid problems.
F1c. Develop specific tree cover and landscaping requirements for all new public and private development, including parking lots.
Goal G. Integrated planning and implementation policies that address common concerns about open space, recreation, and environmental issues.
Objective G1. Obtain and evaluate existing ordinances and policies, and recommend changes needed to assure complementary support in the implementation of those regulations; i.e., zoning, subdivisions, engineering as they relate to environmental and open space considerations.
Strategies
G1a. Identify existing regulations, analyze their mutual support/non-support/internal conflicts that need to be addressed, and identify how the overall impact of the regulations can be strengthened to achieve current needs.
G1b. Based upon current Best Management Practices, recommend changes in current regulations that streamline administrative processes and provide developers the advantage of using modern concepts and technologies.
G1c. Identify ponds in the region, which could provide both environmental and recreational opportunities, and develop specific site analysis of each for inclusion in an action plan for development of the areas per the plan's recommendations.