Martinsburg, WV (May 26, 2023 The Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks and Recreation (MBCPR) department brings new trails to Poor House Farm Park.
The MBCPR has been working diligently to grow and develop the programs and parks in the Berkeley County area. Most recently, they have completed the addition of new trails at Poor House Farm Park. There are two new trails, one close to the lake and the other near the football field, both are marked with orange paint for easy identification. The first trail spans .75 miles, while the second boasts two loops and 1.25 miles of walkable space. With views of North Mountain, Tuscarora Creek, forest areas, and meadows, the new trails provide areas with sun and shade and are a direct response to community surveys that concluded citizens wanted more walking/running trails.
Executive Director, Bob Williams says, “It goes back to our community survey. One of the top 5 things people wanted to see in our community was more nature trails.”
“We’re really excited to provide what people are seeking,” Williams continues.
Poor House Farm Park is located on Poor House Rd, Martinsburg, WV 25403.
See MBCPR’s Master Plan for More Information on Upcoming Development
War Memorial Park became a public space in 1947 in remembrance of those who served in World War II. Since its inception, many updates and changes have been made to make the space one of the most visited in the county. Over the course of many years, community members have donated and worked to maintain the park. The Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks and Recreation (MBCPR) department is dedicated to continuing the long legacy of improvements as the area continues to grow in population so that the diverse members of the Berkeley County community can enjoy all the beauty and amenities that the park has to offer.
On May 3rd, 2023, a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony took place to commemorate the newest enhancement to the park, a playground with new equipment, including hangers, rope climbers, slides, benches, fresh mulching, and canopy-style shades-a perfect addition as we propel into the summer months.
Bob Williams, MBCPR Executive Director shares, “It’s really exciting to have a new playground, the community hasn’t had one in quite a while.”
Williams is anticipating a great turnout for the weekend, “We can’t wait to see how many people come out this weekend, on one of the warmer, drier weekends we’ve had in a couple of weeks.”
The MBCPR is grateful for the Berkeley County Development Authority, the City of Martinsburg, and the MBCPR Board for their major contributions to see the project to completion.
The Berkeley County Parks and Recreation Department is excited to share the enhancements and additions that are coming to Rooney Park, located on Back Creek Valley Road in Hedgesville. The 17 acres at Rooney Park currently boast one large baseball field, one youth-sized field and a pavilion.
First, a new playground is being built below the already existing gazebo. This will be a great addition for Berkeley County residents with children. Also, the creation of new trails will give community members a new place to exercise and enjoy the beautiful scenery the park offers.
Improvements that have already been completed include two brand new dugouts and updates to the infields and some of the turf areas.
MBCPR Executive Director, Bob Williams is grateful to the community members who helped make the renovations stating,
“Thanks to the volunteers who helped build the brand new dugouts.”
Williams is excited that the MBCPR can afford residents these new opportunities expressing,
“We hope you (the Berkeley County community) will get to enjoy them soon.”
The MBCPR remains committed to improving the local parks and public spaces in the city and county to provide its citizens ample options for outdoor leisure and activities.
With only a few days away from Memorial Day and the unofficial start to summer, our thoughts turn toward warmer days, food on the grill, and time spent with friends and family. Fortunately, we can help you with each one of those items.
Starting on Memorial Day, and going through Labor Day, the War Memorial and Lambert Pools will be open for your enjoyment. There is something for everyone – we have open pool use, time slots for pool parties, swim lessons, and senior swim times. At War Memorial Park, we also have mini-golf available during the summer. The concession stands at each pool will have food, drinks and ice cream that will be sure to cool you off.
If you want to enjoy a nice meal outside, many of our park locations have pavilions, picnic tables, and shady spots which are perfect for a quick lunch or a weekend meal. Whether with friends or going solo, parks are a perfect place to for that burger or sandwich.
And don’t forget that you can spend time with family and friends playing games, climbing on playgrounds, going for a walk, playing disc golf, or enjoying many of the other activities in our parks. There is something for everyone this summer – June Jubilee will be on June 11 at War Memorial Park. We will be holding our summer concert series, kicking it off with Cashmere on June 15. There is a summer adventure day camp starting June 5 and it goes on for 10 weeks.
While you are out exploring, check out some of the new projects that we’ve been working on. For starters, we’ve opened a new playground at War Memorial Park. It is located between the pool and the Norwalk Pavilion, and has two towers and lots of climbing challenges. Next, we head to Poor House Farm Park where we are opening two new walking trails to show off the new 70-acre property that was purchased last fall. These trails go through meadows and along the Tuscarora Creek. We also had volunteers plant around 40 trees here this past April, setting up a great legacy for the future.
We continue other work to continuously improve our programs and facilities. We have purchased several inflatable games that will start showing up at events and programs. This was through a generous grant from the Noon Rotary Club of Martinsburg. We now have an inflatable screen so that we can have family movie nights throughout the year.
Upcoming projects include a nature-based playground at Poor House Farm Park. We are finalizing the design, and if everything works out, it should be ready to explore in early fall. This will be an expansive climbing structure called a Jungle Dome, and a ride-on zip line. We will also be breaking ground on a new park in Spring Mills which should be open this fall, and the entrance road in DuPont Soccer Complex is scheduled to be paved at the end of July.
There is so much to do this summer. Make sure to schedule some time outside. We will see you there.
