BLUEFIELD, W. Va. -While the Bluefield City Park’s annual Holiday of Lights may be in full swing, the park is still recovering from the hurricane damage from this fall, with other improvements planned as well.
Bluefield City Manager Cecil Marson says the City still has a lot of work to do to get everything put back together following damage from Hurricane Helene. He says much of the park requires “substantial” repairs, with fallen trees and damage to the Davidson House and the Ridge Runner railroad tracks’ retaining wall.
They also have non-storm-related improvements scheduled for this spring, such as the new splash pad, a new concession stand, fixing the basketball and volleyball courts and walking trail, and repaving the entire park. However, they are still working before the new year, with one of the top priorities being to make sure the annual Holiday of Lights can operate with no literal or metaphorical roadblocks.
“It’s our Christmas. We are West Virginia’s Christmas City…” explains Marson, “…It’s just a part of our DNA, and we have families from all over the region that, you know, spend their Christmas going and seeing all those lights. It’s very affordable, and it’s just something very unique to our area that we have, and so it’s a king of a ‘no fail’ event for us, so we try to move mountains to make that happen.”
Marson says he’s very appreciative of the City’s public works team, storm water crews and fire and police departments for their work helping make all this possible, and you can help as well.
He says those interested in volunteering at the park can contact Parks and Rec’s Rick Showalter or Justin Hawkins for more information.
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