Local residents hold protest during new park opening

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (WKBN) — While a new park’s groundbreaking was happening in East Palestine on Saturday, a protest was going on just down the hill.

The protest was made up of residents not satisfied with this community investment.

Those residents say they love the park, but they are still fighting for things like in-home testing and long-term health care, and they are not considering a class action settlement.

Some residents, like Christa Graves, want the option to relocate, something the settlement costs can’t cover.

“And you see it’s a nice park, but could it use some updates? Yeah, but it doesn’t need a whole $25 million but if that’s what they want I’m good. All the way good. Just help us get out, and we’ll be out of your hair,” Graves said. “I just want to be able to move on and not sign away my grandson’s rights.”

Residents were chanting things like “We Need Health Insurance” and “Relocate Us.”

Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw was also at the park’s groundbreaking. He shared his thoughts on the National Transportation Safety Board’s final report on the train derailment.

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