New Recreational Park to Enhance Opequon Creek Access Approved by Berkeley County Commission

The Berkeley County Commission has approved a new recreational project at the Stone Bridge site along Opequon Creek, east of Martinsburg, West Virginia. This decision allows for the creation of a park covering over six acres south of the Van Metre Ford Bridge at the intersection of Golf Course and Blairton roads. The lease agreement with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) aims to enhance the area with recreational facilities.

Under the lease, the site will undergo improvements to promote outdoor activities and education. These will include trail development and the creation of outdoor classroom areas to support wildlife and fisheries education. The DNR will also construct a boat slip at the Stonebridge site to improve boater access to Opequon Creek.

The project seeks to enhance recreational facilities and public access to water trails, offering recreational, aesthetic, and educational benefits. Matt Umstead, director of the Berkeley County Office of Strategic Planning and Communication, noted that federal grant funding is available to support this initiative. The Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks & Recreation Board will manage the property and lead these enhancements.

Joe Burton, the executive director of the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks & Recreation Board, is optimistic about the potential of Opequon Creek. He believes it could become a destination for tubing, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing, similar to Antietam Creek in Maryland, potentially boosting tourism and the local economy.

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