Biker rally proposed for Mountwood Park

By ROGER ADKINS
PARKERSBURG — Mountwood Park officials are discussing the possibility of holding a motorcycle rally at the park.

The issue, along with others, was discussed during a meeting Monday of the Wood County Parks and Recreation Commission, the board that oversees the operation of Mountwood Park. The meeting was held at the Judge Donald F. Black Courthouse Annex on Market Street.

The event is in the planning stages and has not been confirmed, park officials said. Tammi Collins, marketing and events coordinator of the park, and Jack Mathers, park board president, said officials have been talking to Victoria French, a native of West Virginia who has organized motorcycle rallies in other parts of the country.

Events held by French in other areas have included bike shows, classic car shows, battle-of-the-bands events and performances by well-known musicians, including Phil Collins, Tammi Collins and Mathers said.

The event would bring an estimated 1,200 motorcycles to the park, along with thousands of people, park officials said.

Money raised by the event would benefit the American Cancer Society and, likely, Mountwood Park, officials said.

Though the event has not been confirmed, park officials said the hope is to hold it sometime between Volcano Days in September and the Fall Foilage Festival.

“I think this would be a good opportunity for the park,” Mathers said.

Other board members were not convinced, however. Board member Mike Naylor asked if there would be a way to control “the types of bikers coming in.”

He and other board members were concerned about security issues.

Mathers said the best way for the board to get a feel for the event would be to ask French to come to a parks commission meeting and make a presentation. The hope is to have her as a guest at the next meeting.

“Why don’t we see if we can get her down here next month,” he said.

In other business:

? Mathers said the search is ongoing for a candidate to replace park director Joe Oppe. Oppe resigned his position as park director last month. Assistant director Carla Knapp was appointed park director in the interim.

Mathers said only one person has submitted a resume and others have sent inquiries by e-mail. During Monday’s meeting, board members were given a survey to complete to determine what performance objectives they feel are most important for potential candidates.

Officials said they expect the search to continue and a replacement may not be named until this summer.