Members, Associate Members and guests met at the Calhoun County Park’s regular monthly meetng Thursday Night to discuss the ongoing expansion of the Park and several new features that will make the attraction of visitors competitive with any State Park.
A newly built cabin is just one of the new features that is almost complete, lacking trim, lights and water, that when added will complete the cabin making it available to reserve on the Parks website www.calhouncountyparkwv.com. When the website is updated it will include an arial map and site images for reservations made possible through the Parks growing partnerships with Derek Villers and Country Escapes Realty.
In addition to the cabin the Park expansion will host 15 to 20 camper hookups throughout the field, with a new bathouse facility, picnic shelter and playground on site. Dominion Energy of Grantsville recently provided two loads of stone to the campground road, with more necessary for completion.
Member Brad Stevens updated the board on webiste features that will be added and his work to get trout fishing added to the park ponds. A go fund me page has been established to raise the $1800 necessary to purchase 500 lb. of trout with future hopes of creating a sustainabilty method of the park ponds and what they have to offer.
Board Member John Schneider requested the approval of a September Civil War Reinactment Battle for the fall of 2022 which was approved. The Board discussed that they would like to host at least four major events each year including a Spring Star Party Event, 4th of July Celebration, a Fall Event and the December Light Display.
Board Member Chuck McCroskey updated the board on the status of windows needing replaced in the upstairs of the Park Barn. Simonton Windows of Harrisville, WV will be at least a partial contributor to that project.
Special guests Jeremy Bumgardner and Jeri Booher of Insight Astronomy in Bridgeport, WV delivered four new telescopes that were part of a $12,000 equipment grant made possible by Calhoun County Schools, Minnie Hamilton Health Systems and Calhoun Banks. As members of the Central Appalachian Astronomy Club, they and many others have utilized Calhoun County Park for stargazing events which has garnered a great deal of interest from across the United States. The first “Star Party” was held in 2014 by the University of Tennessee, but since that time growing numbers have been traveling from Ohio and Pennsylvania and many other States.
Local interest is beginning to grow substantially with Calhoun Middle High School (CMHS) Students contacting the Park Board. Donald Pitts received a letter from student Courtney Blosser who stated that she and others, as Engineerng and Design Pathway students, would like to meet with the Board and discuss working on the Dark Sky Certification Project for Calhoun County.
International Dark Sky Place designations almost always begin with a small group of individuals who organize to seek formal protection of their nightscape. By arranging for good outdoor lighting policies, rehabilitating poor-quality outdoor lighting installations, and reaching out to educate neighbors and visitors on the importance of dark skies, International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) set a positive example for their communities and countries. Calhoun County is seeking to become a part of that organization and the students of CMHS would like to offer their assistance as interest in astronomy grows.
Image from the Calhoun County Park stargazing page www.calhouncountyparkwv.com
