Sweet Springs Resort Park accepted into Stewards Individual Placements – WV Ready program

SWEET SPRINGS W.Va (WVDN) – Sweet Springs Resort Park Foundation Inc. a 501 C3 nonprofit charitable organization is moving right along even in the cold weather. The park is proud to announce it has been accepted in the Stewards Individual Placements – WV Ready program for a worker to be employed for a Trail Maintenance and Beautification Project. The park is very excited to be a part of helping others willing to help the park.

This program works with AmeriCorps, one of the projects foundation officials have listed as a “to do” for a park project. They will continue this program annually and request more workers each year. The AmeriCorp worker will be working closely with Zen Clements, Trail Designer/Director for both SS Turnpike Trail and Mountain Biking Trail, and Ashby Berkley, Project Executive Director on the beautification of the Trailhead and surrounding areas.

The Mountain Biking Trail is in the process of being designed, hikers are using the Historic Sweet Springs Turnpike Trail (hats off to these wonderful folks), and still clearing on Phase II of the trail.

In February, a trip to Charleston is planned for the HUB’s Community Development Day, and in March, Berkley, Arietta DuPre (Executive Director of Operations), and Roseanna Sacco (Volunteer, Assistant Director of Trail, and assists with History) will be making a trip to Washington DC for Lobby Days and to discuss the Historic Turnpike Trail.  

Things are going well and the park hopes this continues. Keeping the Andrew S. Rowan Memorial Farm is the key to the success of this very important project. Without the farm, the trail is gone and the entire project will die. This will not only hurt Monroe County but the state as well. Officials noted their major problem is the WV Department of Agriculture attempting to break the Park’s 30-year lease on the Andrew S. Rowan Memorial Farm which is the recreational land including the Historic Sweet Springs Turnpike Trail and the Mountain Biking Trail.  

The park is asking that all supporters call the following before Monday, Jan. 29 so the Senators and Delegates will have received these calls before Berkley, Sacco and DuPre go to Charleston. Get your family and friends to do the same – the more calls the better. 

Senator Bill Hamilton – 304-357-7906

Senator Vince Deeds – 304-357-7959

Senator Jack Woodrum – 304-357-7849

Delegate Roy Cooper – 304-340-3119

Delegate Mike Pushkin – 304-340-3106

Tell them to “Reinstate and amend SB 581 or create a new bill to pass in this session donating the Andrew S. Rowan Memorial Farm to the Sweet Springs Resort Park Foundation Inc., for the continuation of this important project.