Parkersburg council discusses Depot Park project

The administrators of a local trust came before the Parkersburg city council to outline their plans and hopes for the Depot Park renovation project during last Tuesday night’s regular meeting.

Wendell Abkes of the Alan Dale and Fayette Meyer Family Trust warned the council that it needs to do address water flow and storm sewer drainage into Beaver Creek as it takes on the park on the north side of town. Earlier this year, it was announced that Christian Eilers would be working on improving the park for his Eagle Scout project. Eilers is already in the process of power washing the caboose and repainting it.

“The terracing is fine, but the sewer is running into the river. Whatever has stopped the DNR from coming in, I don’t know,” Abkes said. “I’ve been harping on it and harping on it, and all I get is a deaf ear. If the state came in and looked at it now, we’d be in trouble.”

City administrator Chris Luhring responded that he believes the city shares the same goals on the project. Dallas Schrage, who also attended on behalf of the trust, asked for permission to move forward with hauling dirt. The council agreed to proceed and seemed encouraged by the progress.

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