City of Parkersburg opens Simms Powell Pavilion
Mayor Tom Joyce (sixth from left) joined by Parkersburg City Council members, previous members, and some members of the community for the cutting of the ribbon at the Simms Powell Pavilion on Monday afternoon. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
Local residents attend the ribbon cutting for the Simms Powell Pavilion on Monday afternoon. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
Mayor Tom Joyce speaks at the ribbon cutting for the Simms Powell Pavilion on Monday afternoon. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
Local residents attend the ribbon cutting for the Simms Powell Pavilion on Monday afternoon. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
The community explores the new City Park Pavilion including a mural created by local art teachers and students on Monday afternoon at the ribbon cutting. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
The community looks at the 'legacy wall' inside the new City Park Pavilion detailing the history of the park and the prior pavilion on Monday afternoon. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
Mayor Tom Joyce (sixth from left) joined by Parkersburg City Council members, previous members, and some members of the community for the cutting of the ribbon at the Simms Powell Pavilion on Monday afternoon. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
Local residents attend the ribbon cutting for the Simms Powell Pavilion on Monday afternoon. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
Mayor Tom Joyce speaks at the ribbon cutting for the Simms Powell Pavilion on Monday afternoon. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
Local residents attend the ribbon cutting for the Simms Powell Pavilion on Monday afternoon. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
The community explores the new City Park Pavilion including a mural created by local art teachers and students on Monday afternoon at the ribbon cutting. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
The community looks at the 'legacy wall' inside the new City Park Pavilion detailing the history of the park and the prior pavilion on Monday afternoon. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
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PARKERSBURG - The City of Parkersburg held a ribbon cutting for the new Simms Powell City Pavilion on Monday afternoon.
The $15 million pavilion, named after a 1896 councilman who spearheaded the purchase of the land, features an arena, gymnasium, community meeting room, kitchen, office space for the Wood County Recreation Commission, and a police substation.
Demolition of the original 100 year old City Pavilion began two years ago in October of 2024, with construction starting mid-2025.
Mayor Tom Joyce remarked on the process that led to the construction of the building.
"Somebody asked me last week, how long did it take to build this building. Well, about 45 years, if you look back through the different administrations... Five years ago, we came up with the idea of using our reserves, drafting an investment policy statement," he said. "The bonds are being serviced by revenue and interest generated by the money that we have saved. I think this building is proof that flat budgeting works, growing (the) revenue naturally, as opposed to going out and borrowing money."
Randall Reid-Smith, constituent services representative, gave remarks on behalf of junior Senator Jim Justice (R-W.Va) said "Today we dedicate the Simms Powell Pavilion and honor his grit and determination to create this space for generations of Parkersburg families to enjoy and make lasting memories."
Ryan Barber, development director for the City of Parkersburg, spoke on the preservation of history of City Park and the prior City Park Pavilion.
"Our team started working with Bob Enoch and his friends at Wood County Historic Preservation Society. This is the oldest city park in the state of West Virginia, and we learned a lot from Bob and his team, digging through the archives, and we were able to preserve a lot of that history."
Barber said inside the pavilion is a 40 foot “legacy wall" describing the history of the park and features the 1931 plaque from the prior City Park Pavilion.
The building also features a 30 foot mural, that was created by Abbie Burge, Fine Arts Department head and director of Art at Parkersburg South High School, and Emma Romanowski, Parkersburg High School art teacher with the help of local students; Sue and Brad Burge, Izzy Early, Emma Richards, Zoey Williamson, and Noel Lang.
Jaliyah Townsend, events and marketing coordinator for the City of Parkersburg, said she was most excited for the possibilities of the space and hearing the response from the community.
"Its a new opportunity for our community to thrive and grow, and to bring new opportunities here to the area. I would just love to hear what people think would be great in the space. What they think they're missing from their community and see how we can implement that."
Townsend can be contacted at jaliyah.townsend@parkersburgwv.gov.
Sophie Wheeler can be reached at swheeler@newsandsentinel.com.