| Work Detail |
Ground broke on Wednesday, Aug. 31 on a new, $1.2 million boat ramp and dock at Palatine Park. The Green River Group, LLC was awarded the project in July and will be building the river access point with help from Thrasher Engineering. “The scope of the work fits our expertise, and the location fits our service area,” Green River Group, LLC Managing Member Steve Calvert said. “The timing of it worked into our schedule … I have my fingers crossed that this will be a financial success for us. I hope to, as we’ve done many times in the past in the Fairmont area, leave these folks with a usable product.” The plan is for the project to be completed in 120 days, but West Virginia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Capital Improvements Coordinator Zack Brown said some factors could change when the ramp is finished. “Our time line right now is to try to get it done by winter,” Brown said. “Sometimes you get delays. High water, floods or hurricanes could come through. We’ll definitely be done by next spring would be my guess.” Calvert is also weary of the weather’s impact on the project, saying he hoped to start in early July rather than the end of summer. Many of the area’s fishing groups are excited for the new ramp, including Bass Nation of West Virginia (BNWV). “It should bring up river travel and people utilizing the water,” BNWV Youth Director Dana Brown said. “When we hold a tournament here, there’s a lot of money, so the businesses can benefit from this.” Zack Brown said the DNR had already been looking for increased boating access in the area when they were contacted by the Marion County Commission for the project. “It’s a win/win situation,” Zack Brown said. “The community itself is going to see a recreational boom. It’s going to increase traffic a little bit downtown and bring in some different tournaments. Also, it’s going to provide day-to-day recreation opportunities for local citizens, as well as people who are travelling in from out-of-state.” In fact, many of the event’s speakers and attendees talked about the positive economic and recreational impact that the ramp and dock would have. Marion County Parks and Recreation Commission Event Director John Provins said the ramp could only help the area. “If you have a lot of people coming in and using the river and using the parks and other amenities that are coming, you’re going to employ more people,” Provins said. “Wages are going to go up and the quality of life in general is going to go up. When the quality of life goes up, then people are starting to say ‘Hey, I would like to live in that area’ or ‘I want to put my business in that area.’” |
