(Editorial - Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

City and economic development officials are doing their best to make a proposed activity and recreation center truly a community project. With the location of a $13 million facility at stake, it was wise to bring in members of the public to talk about what best serves local residents and potentially helps attract new ones.

During this week’s meeting at the City Park Pavilion, approximately 130 people took advantage of the opportunity. That kind of involvement is wonderful to behold. It meant real ideas were tossed back and forth and those involved in planning the project got perspectives that will help them make a decision.

“The goal is to give as many people a voice as possible,” said Ryan Taylor, president and CEO of the architectural firm Pickering Associates.

Good.

The key now is to listen to those voices. Residents pitched locations such as downtown Parkersburg, Fort Boreman Hill and Southwood Park in addition to the City Park location shown in renderings. Two of those options appear to be more practical than the others. The challenge now is figuring out which option does the best job of providing the anticipated benefits of such a facility without sacrificing too much.

City officials already appear to have a good handle on how to fund the project — remaining American Rescue Plan Act money, the approximately $10 million that had previously been allocated for maintenance and demolition of the Memorial Bridge, private supporters and a pitch to U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin’s office for a Congressional earmark.

They also appear to have the right people involved in bringing it to fruition, as Pickering representatives were joined by City Development Director Ryan Barber, Wood County Economic Development Executive Director Lindsey Piersol and Police Chief Matthew Board in discussing the matter with members of the public.

Whatever the location, a new activity and recreation center will be an important asset for Parkersburg. Here’s hoping it is a sign our community is determined to move forward and build on that momentum.