Small City, big options - Huntington, W. Va

Parks & Recreation, Oct, 2003

With 51,000 residents packed into less than 16 square miles, Huntington, nestled along the banks of the Ohio River in close proximity to both Ohio and Kentucky, is bound to be a bustling place. When it comes to sports and recreation, there's no question that this is the case.

A recreational centerpiece of the city is the Veterans Memorial Field House. Owned and operated by the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District (GHPRD), the 20,000-square-foot facility is a venue for a tremendous variety of sporting events, from soccer and inline hockey to rodeo, wrestling and ice shows. Fresh off a supremely well received $90,000 "Spider Tile" makeover of its hardwood floor in May, it's also a locus for a range of cultural, entertainment and business affairs: concerts, fundraisers, circuses and trade shows. As a result, this frequent site of sporting competitions and exhibitions is also an integral part of the community.

The crown jewel of outdoor recreation in Huntington is Ritter Park. Opened in 1913 and consisting of 75 acres along Four Pole Creek, the park maintains its beauty and serenity in spite of being one of the busiest places in town--on any given day the park is rife with walker's and joggers out to work up a sweat, and casual amblers basking in the tranquility. The Rose Garden and Room with a View, with 2,000 brilliant flowers, is perhaps the most popular natural draw. There's also a playground (rated 6th best nationally by Child Magazine), an amphitheater, and non-motor roadways--recently resurfaced-for cyclists, skaters, strollers, walkers, wheelchairs and joggers.

The Ritter Park Tennis Center benefits from one of the most beautiful natural environments imaginable for the game. The center is borne to a multitude of events throughout the year, including the West Virginia State Open Indoor Championships, the Huntington Junior Open and the Dick Griffith Open. The center offers instructional programs to both adults and juniors and is open year-round.

The Huntington Roadrunners Club stages numerous running and walking events throughout the year in this health-conscious city. Every Sunday, the club hosts an informal "fun run" in the park ranging from half a mile to 6 miles, with the stated goal of promoting running as a conditioning, competitive and social activity. There's no charge tot entering these runs.

The Park District Fall Softball League is hugely popular. Some three dozen teams split into four leagues--two for men, two co-ed--play a slate of games from early August to early October, which is when the real fun--tournaments--begins.

Huntington is home to Marshall University, 12,000 students strong and perennially an NCAA Division 1 football power. In an era of frequent athletic program cuts at schools across the nation, Marshall recently added swimming and women's golf to the 12 varsity teams already in existence. The athletic department demonstrates its concern for students' well-being through the Buck Harless Student-Athlete Program, which participates in academic advising, graduation tracking, counseling and more. Marshall's holistic mission is reflected in the strong ties long enjoyed between the athletic department and the community.

The engine behind this array of opportunities for Huntingtonians is the GHPRD Fund, whose leaders and employees consist largely of citizens who grew up taking advantage of the abundance of area parks and eager to show their gratitude and support. The organization has raised considerable money through grant writing over the years, but with the ambition of expanding park amenities such as playgrounds and walking paths as well as maintaining the existing system, the GHPRD is exploring other Sources of funds. "I want our system to continue to offer free, superior facilities," says board member Bob Vass, Sr. "We need to build art endowment for the district to supplement our public funding."

Board member Marilyn Hollands-worth is succinct in evoking Huntington's recreational spirit: "In our area," she says, "parks are the public's estates."