Morgantown Riverfront Revitalization Task Force

December 17, 2020 Meeting Notes

1. Old Business
   1. MUB signage at discharge points

Frank has been communicating with folks at MUB and DEP about the red signs by the river at discharge points. He found out that DEP required MUB to install the signs because MUB wasn’t meeting DEP’s discharge standards. MUB came up with their own wording. As far as Frank can tell, there is no specific guidance for those signs. MUB’s attorney said MUB is willing to modify the signs if DEP approves that, since they were required to install them after receiving a notice of violation. Frank contacted DEP last week and is waiting to hear back from them.

1. Mountaineer Heritage/South U Park proposal

Bailey presented several new perspectives of the proposed elements in Mountaineer Heritage Park. Jessica and/or Patrick are on the agenda to present these ideas to the BOPARC Board at their next meeting on January 13^th.

After viewing the perspectives, the Task Force offered the following ideas:

• Make sure the tree species planted are carefully thought out. 
• Make sure to consider spacing for lawnmowers and maintenance, including trash removal. 
• Several people asked about how the trails connect to each other and to the rail trail. We want to make sure existing trail loops back to Rail Trail.
• Vincent mentioned there is still room for sculptures with this design. 
• People asked whether we could talk to the owners of the plaza where BFS is to see if they might share some of their parking spaces with this Park. Emily asked whether we should look at expanding the existing parking lot rather than adding a new one. Drew said that people in earlier conversations felt strongly about the need for a new lot on the other end of the park; currently the existing lot is often full. Drew said these fundamental skills building trails do not exist in town, and he thinks they will be very popular if well-designed. 

1. New Business
   1. City grant application for riverfront rental facility

The City submitted a grant application for a bike/kayak/canoe rental facility near HRM Park to the Land and Water Conservation Fund in December. The Task Force, Adventure WV, and MRTC submitted letters of support for the application. 

1. MRTC riverfront updates

MRTC put in a new trail map in Star City and added art to 5 pilings at the Star City and Van Voorhis kayak launches. A trail map is also going in at HRM Park. MRTC has been putting up Hall of Fame signs along the trail, and Ella may turn finding them into a scavenger hunt in the spring. 

Bike Rack Assessment

Drew thanked Andrew and Ella for their comments on the bicycle rack map he prepared last month. He’s going to work on incorporating those comments. 

Next Meeting:  January 21, 2020 via Zoom