MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Approximately $420,000 in improvements will be coming to the Morgantown Waterfront as well as updated guidance on the city’s ordinance on outdoor dining.
Morgantown City Council, unanimously passed two measures as part of their regular meeting Tuesday. One, approved for continued renovations at the Hazel Ruby McQuain Park Amphitheater and the construction of a new kayak rental facility, which would be located at Walnut Street Landing right nearby. Council, also unanimously approved an ordinance amending the city’s outdoor dining requirements to match them up with state code. These new approvals are part of a continued effort to develop around the Morgantown Waterfront as well as promote business in the Morgantown Area.
“They’re an attraction,” said Morgantown City Councilor Dave Harshbarger. “It’s an economic engine, when we’re having good facilities Downtown at the amphitheater, a kayak facility in the future,” he said.
Changes to the outdoor dining requirements, adds two kinds of permits in addition to the original outdoor dining permit that’s been used by businesses to address limited indoor capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the new requirements, the permits will be classified under sidewalk dining, which extends a restaurant’s service area to the sidewalk or street, outdoor street dining, which would close a portion of a street so tables can be set up, or an outdoor dining permit, which allows a business to serve patrons on other properties.
“This would be for ongoing floor plan extensions, that are sidewalk dining under this ordinance,” Morgantown City Attorney Ryan Simonton explained. “Not so much for events, but more for ongoing extension of your business area,” he said.
The kayak rental facility at Walnut Street Landing, is expected to cost approximately $321,000 when completed. March-Westin Co. Inc. will be awarded the bid and is expected to be completed by the end of Spring 2022. Approximately $120,000 of the project, will be paid for by the Land and Water Conservation Fund with the rest paid from the City of Morgantown’s Capital Escrow Fund. The facility is expected to be used for various uses so it can be used in a year-round manner.
“It’s kind of an open floor, single room, with a bathroom, that can be used for any purpose,” said Morgantown City Director of Engineering Damien Davis on the details of the facility.
New renovations to the Hazel Ruby McQuain Park Amphitheater the were approved by Council, included a new digital screen that would be located in the back of the amphitheater’s performance stage. The new system is expected to cost approximately $108,000, and is part of several projects aimed at renovating the amphitheater so it can be used for outdoor events.
“I think it really professionalizes the look and the feel of the venue,” said Morgantown City Councilor Brian Butcher. “It’s the thing that most professional venues have for concert going,” he said.
These new improvements, are part of several renovations and projects that have taken place over the past year to create more activity around the Morgantown Waterfront. Recently, the Hazel Ruby McQuain Park Amphitheater has received close to a million dollars in various renovations, which included improved lighting systems, sound systems, and complete seating replacements ahead of Tuesday’s approved renovations.
“Because it is a portable system, there’s limitless different uses for it,” said Morgantown City Cultural Facilities Manager Joe Kahlor, who helps oversee operations at the Hazel Ruby McQuain Park Amphitheater. “But the main thing is to get people down to the riverfront and have families down there, lot’s of family activity and this is a great draw for that,” he said.
Council also passed a resolution that support’s the City of Morgantown’s grant request to Monongalia County Commission for funding for the Ruby Summer Concert Series and the annual 4th of July celebration at Hazel Ruby McQuain Park.