PARKERSBURG -Landscape architect students from WVU gave officials a look at some future possibilities for land use in south Parkersburg.
The students were charged with designing a conceptual plan for land use incorporating the south Parkersburg branch of the Wood County library, Blizzard Park and fire station 5.
Kathryn Wittner, professor of the landscape architecture at WVU, said the city-owned property in south Parkersburg was a good case study for her students because it has several uses. Students were also given the area because of the multiple uses of space and the greenspace component.
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Photo by Jody Murphy
WVU landscape architecture student Lilly Clift and Matt Gerhart discuss their conceptual design for the land in south Parkersburg with Tres Ross, executive director of the Ross Foundation, and former Parkersburg fire Chief Eric Chichester.
"Given the site's topography, the students were asked to consider whether or not a joint facility would make sense," said Rickie Yeager, city planning administrator. "Joint facilities are increasingly popular because the users can share costs."
Twenty-four juniors from WVU's School of Landscape Architecture presented conceptual drawings of the space to officials Monday at the City Building.
Students have spent several weeks coming up with a conceptual drawing for land space.
Councilman John Rockhold marveled at the varying concepts.
"There are 24 kids and 24 different ideas. Not one is alike," he said.
Yeager said there are lots of things going into this project that make it relative, such as the out-dated fire station and the library levy vote that could provide a new building for the south Parkersburg branch.
City Development Director Ann Conageski said the plans are only concepts, noting no feasibility study has been done. That's not to say the students' ideas may not be used down the road, she said.
Yeager noted some of the students' previous work is being incorporated into the bridge at Johnson T. Janes Park.
Yeager said the architectural students typically do a lot of work around Morgantown but have started branching out, reaching out to other areas. This is the fifth such project with which the city has worked with the architect students, most recently with conceptual plans for the former marble factory near the East Street bridge.
"We are letting them spread their wings," Yeager said.
