MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. Governor Jim Justice delivered a $3.5 million check to the Mylan Park Sportsplex from the West Virginia Water Development Authority Economic Enhancement Grant program for new turf for existing baseball and softball fields and the addition of two new turf playing fields.
President of the Mylan Park Foundation Board, Ron Justice, said the end result will be seven total fields, all with artificial turf. The multipurpose field will get the turf treatment, and two additional baseball/softball fields will be added there.
“The local kids get to benefit from all of this,” Justice said. “Our high schools play here in youth baseball and softball, so this is really a good day for us.”
Governor Justice said this money was spent for the right reasons—to make a difference in the lives of children and build good habits. But Justice also said this will provide additional sports tourism opportunities for the region.
“The multiplier effect of these dollars within this community is either three times, eight times, or 14 times, whatever it might be,” Justice said. “Then you just keep multiplying the dollars as they get traded in other places.”
Mike Oliverio (R-Monongalia, 13) said a recent tournament at Mylan Park was washed out because the existing surface does not have the drainage capabilities of the proposed new turf. He said girls softball is one of the most popular traveling sports, and this provides the facilities for those events.
“We want to be in that market of hosting these big tournaments and bringing a lot of families to our community,” Oliverio said. “Staying in our hotels, buying gasoline, meals, and the economic development impact that comes with that.”
Justice said the impact of the tournaments will benefit Mylan Park directly, but the additional investment in the community will be another advantage to offer.
“The return projected on sports tourism is about $9 million a year,” Justice said. “So, Mylan Park will now be a facility that has artificial turf on all of its fields.”
In the last year or so, the state has provided funds for the proposed KOA campground and utility improvements that make the growth possible.
“Within the last 12 to 18 months, the benefit of Mylan Park from the state of West Virginia has been almost $11 million,” Justice said.