Morgantown Dominion Post
11 February 2007
By Evelyn Ryan
The gangway is here, the piers are in the river, the docks are being manufactured for Hazel Ruby McQuain Park.
"We anticipate that as soon as the weather breaks, we'll be able to set the docks in the river and put the railing system in," BOPARC Associate Director Ralph LaRue said.
"That should be done this spring. We've got the hardest part done. We got all the concrete work done before the bad weather hit. The piers are set in the river, and the riprap placed along the bank."
The docks will have a public fishing area as well.
Once all of the river work is complete, the site will be landscaped, he said.
These docks will serve boaters who use "nontrailerable" boats, boats 22 feet and longer that can't be towed by your car or truck.
The Morgantown area already has several places where smaller boats, which can be towed, can load and unload.
This project, as well as improvements to the docks at Star City, is being financed by a $100,000 federal Boating Infrastructure Grant and $25,000 from Morgantown Council.
"We've received the 40-foot gangway which gets us out into the river," LaRue said, and have completed the ramp from the existing sidewalk down to where the gangway connects. New metal railings for the dock have been fabricated and are ready to be installed.
"The boat docks should be ready shortly," LaRue said. "The company that's making them had some manufacturing problems and there is a delay in the delivery."
These units come pre-assembled, ready to bolt together on the river piers, he said.
The 40-foot plume river fountain has been ordered and will be installed this spring as well, LaRue said.
The fountain was the idea of Dr. Rumy Hilloowala, a WVU anatomy professor, who saw large lighted water fountains while traveling in Europe and Canada.
BOPARC agreed to the fountain, if Hilloowala could raise the estimated $25,000 to buy and install it.
"The latest information is that the fountain will be shipped next week and should be here in 10-14 days," Hilloowala said.
The fountain will be installed to the left of the stage at the park, he said. The boat docks will be to the right of the stage. He plans to be at the park when the fountain is installed. The boating project includes new electrical service for the stage and docks, and a handicappedaccessible sidewalk.
Webmaster's note: The green objects shown in the first picture are NOT dock pylons. They are US Coast Guard navigation buoys marking the main shipping channel. The docks will be retained by spars connected to shore.