Amusement Restoration Companies crew lead Tory Lumpkin power washes a section of the waterslide at Southwood Park in Parkersburg Monday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG — Major projects are underway at Parkersburg’s largest parks.

Amusement Restoration Companies started cleaning and grinding the waterslide at Southwood Park on Monday as part of a budgeted $90,000 project to repair the attraction and extend its useful life.

“They’re restoring the slide’s surface and fixing any soft spots,” City Engineer Adam Stout said.

The contractor was able to start earlier than expected, but it’s not clear if the slide will be ready to open before the second week in June, as originally planned, Stout said.

The YMCA of Parkersburg, which is managing the slide and the City Park pool this year, will be ready to staff it, Mayor Tom Joyce said.

Bare’s Fence owner Jim Bare augurs a hole for a backstop Monday at Bennett Stump Field in City Park. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“We’ll get it open as quickly as we can,” he said.

Having the slide available is especially important this summer as construction continues on the rebuilt Southwood Park pool, Joyce said.

Stout said the pool “is probably not going to open this year.” While most materials are on hand, controls and other components for the chlorination and new water features are not expected to arrive until late July or August.

“We have everything else, except for those parts that make it run,” Stout said.

Another project, replacement of a shelter damaged several months ago by a car, was started Monday by Jimmie Harper Construction. The cost is $69,000, covered by insurance money, Stout said.

Amusement Restoration Companies crew lead Tory Lumpkin power washes a section of the waterslide at Southwood Park in Parkersburg Monday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

The City Park pool is set to open Saturday. As final preparations are made there, work continues on renovations to nearby Bennett Stump Field.

Parkersburg City Council last year allocated $1.75 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for the project, which includes Astroturf for the infield, a building for equipment and new lights, fencing and dugouts.

At least one former Memorial Bridge ticket booth will be installed at the field.

Joyce said he asked the bridge’s new owner, Parkersburg Bridge Partners, what would be done with the booths and they “said come get ’em.”

Work on the field began in March, causing Parkersburg High School’s baseball team to play its home games at Jackson Park in Vienna. It’s on pace to reopen in mid-July, potentially allowing for some American Legion and adult baseball games to be played there this summer, Joyce said.

Two ticket booths previously installed at the Memorial Bridge sit at Bennett Stump Field in City Park. At least one will be used as a ticket booth at the renovated field, Mayor Tom Joyce said. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“They’ve been working pretty much all spring,” he said.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.

Amusement Restoration Companies began work to repair the waterslide at Southwood Park Monday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)