VOLCANO - Mountwood Park celebrated grants totalling $100,000 Thursday afternoon with state and county representatives.
State senators, members of the House of Delegates and representatives of the Wood County Commission collaborated on a combination grant to fund the replacement of the roof on Pressley Ridge, the former park lodge built in 1980.
The group met at Pressley Ridge in Mountwood Park to present the grants to the park, Mountwood Park President Bob Buchanan said.
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Photo by Mandi Cardosi
Sen. David Nohe, left, Sen. Donna Boley, center, and Bob Buchanan, president of the Mountwood Park board, right, show the certificate of the acceptance of a grant to fund the renovation of the roof at Pressley Ridge.
The grant given to the park included $25,000 through Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, $25,000 through the West Virginia House of Delegates, $25,000 through the West Virginia Senate and $25,000 through the Wood County Commission.
The building is being used to house troubled youth in the county. The juveniles live on-site in the former cabins, said Wood County Parks Director Jeremy Cross.
Sixty-one juveniles are housed in the facility. Pressley Ridge is a non-profit organization founded in 1832 to keep children and families together so youth with "challenging behaviors" can remain in their homes, schools or communities.
The organization has roots in West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland and Delaware, according to the group's website.
"They're going to come out of here one day and be citizens (again)," said Wood County Commissioner Blair Couch. "The facility and what they do with the children is important."
The park's ability to lease the facility helps provide the citizens of Wood County with a tremendous park to enjoy, he said.
"We are appreciative of the partnership," Angie Hamilton, executive director over state operations for Pressley Ridge, said. "We hope to continue collaborating with the community and Wood County."
Jeremy Waugaman, residential coordinator at the facility, said the state and county have been helpful with the endeavor.
Sen. David Nohe and Sen. Donna Boley helped with funding through the Senate. Nohe said it was a joint effort for something "really vital to this community."
Boley said she was persuaded after Buchanan took she and Couch through the facility and showed them the conditions of the leaking roof. Delegate Dan Poling supported funding the project.
Buchanan said it was important to get everyone together to show the benefits of the collaborative efforts.
"If it wasn't for (everyone involved) this wouldn't have been possible," he said.
