PARKERSBURG - Wood County Schools on Wednesday closed on the purchase of property adjacent to Emerson Elementary School to expand parking and create another access.
Officials had been working to purchase the property since June, but had waited until the owner demolished a house along 36th Street. The district paid just under $120,000 for the triangle-shaped property.
"If we'd had to demolish the house, it would have cost us an additional $30,000-40,000," said Sue Woodward, assistant superintendent of school services.
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Officials with Wood County Schools announced Wednesday the district purchased a 36th Street property adjacent to Emerson Elementary School. The property will be used for parking and to create a second entrance route along the side of the school. (Photo by Michael Erb)
Two residences once on the property have have been removed. The school is looking at extending its parking and creating a second entrance along the side of the building.
"They are looking to bring some of the vehicular traffic from the front of the building to the side of the building," Woodward said.
Officials are unsure how the parking lot will be funded or whether it will be gravel or asphalt. Woodward said the county purchased the property, so it likely will be left to the school to pay for construction of a parking lot.
The school will have to meet all state and federal guidelines for construction, such as making sure the sidewalks are handicapped accessible, Woodward said.
"Now that it is school property, there are some additional requirements we have to meet," she said. "That all will factor into the final cost."
