FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City and MUB Issue Statements Regarding Proposed Addendum to White Park License Agreement

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Today, the City of Morgantown, Morgantown Utility Board (MUB), and the Morgantown Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners (BOPARC) announced a proposed addendum to the White Park License Agreement. The proposed addendum allows for changes to the original trail route recommended by the trail designer and establishes a competitive bidding process to complete the tree replanting obligations.

“Morgantown City Council, BOPARC and MUB are all very excited to have this project bid out and installed in the very near future,” said Mayor Jenny Selin. “We look to make this trail and tree planting an example of the public good that can be accomplished when we all work together.”

The Addendum will be up for approval this morning during a MUB special meeting and at a BOPARC meeting this afternoon. Both are expected to approve the addendum and the document will then be taken up at Tuesday’s Morgantown City Council meeting.

“We’re happy to have the addendum complete and are comfortable with the compromises reached in finalizing it,” said Morgantown Utility Board Chair J.T. Straface. “The process reflects well on the commitment of MUB, BOPARC and the City of Morgantown in serving local residents. After all, the benefactors of these combined efforts are not our organizations but the entire Morgantown area.”

The Addendum addresses two primary concerns that arose since the signing of the White Park License Agreement in 2019. The first, was that the initial design of the trail that was in the 2019 License Agreement needed adjustment. This was determined once MUB had completed its work and the terrain was inspected. With the assistance of a trail designer and guidance from the West Virginia University Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative, adjustments were made to the original trail to accommodate the site. Second, the Morgantown Tree Board recommended replanting trees over an extended period of time due to the number of trees involved and necessity for finding appropriate locations. The Addendum calls for the replacement of the trees to be competitively bid out to ensure the best price and allow replanting to occur over time.

“As a community member I am thrilled to see our agreement with MUB moving forward,” said BOPARC Board Member Rachel Fetty. “BOPARC has worked hard to ensure the outcome of this development serves the needs and the hopes of our patrons. Approval of this agreement will honor the value of White Park as a critical resource for our neighbors and a cornerstone for local recreational development.”

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