On Monday, the Upshur County Probation Office Department teamed up with Upshur County Youth Soccer and the Upshur County Commission to provide additional parking and a graveled walkway for those using the Brushy Fork complex this spring.  The property is owned by the county commission and youth soccer has been utilizing the field for U8 and U6 teams.

“There was a need for additional parking and a walkway, as children and their parents were having to walk down the gravel road to access their vehicles,” Chief Probation Officer Jason Kelley said. “Often, these young children and their parents are navigating vehicles on the single lane road when one game is ending and people are arriving for the next set of games. This really causes a safety issue, with over 90 kids and their parents accessing the complex on the weekends for games alone, not including the number of people at the complex through the week for practices. There really was no alternative other than walking through the swampy area.  

“The parking area was extended with new gravel and a walkway was added in front of the parking area to allow people safe access to their vehicles. The participants cut some brush away from the storage building and filled in some holes in the playing field as well.  Deputy Marshall Powers helped with that part of the project and hauled a load of topsoil at no expense.”

The Probation Department organized the project and utilized offenders on probation with community service requirements as well as offenders participating in drug court. The Upshur County Commission and Upshur County Youth Soccer provided over 120 tons of gravel for the project.

“It is not always easy to get support for these community service projects, but it is important to provide the offenders an opportunity to contribute to the community in a positive way,” Kelley said. “I really want to thank the commission and youth soccer for their support with this project.”