BUCKHANNON – The Upshur County Commission is requesting community input on a future recreational complex.

Assistant Upshur County Administrator Cindy Hughes said the deadline for the survey is the evening of Monday, June 26, and the link for the survey may be found here.

“The survey is requesting input from the public regarding what activities and/or sports events, and accommodations should be at the facility, so it is asking what type of things the public wants to see,” Hughes said. “Some of the questions involve things like, ‘Are your children involved in sports?’ or ‘Are members of your family involved in sports?’ If so, it asks, ‘What types of sports would you like to see?’”

The survey was created to ensure the new complex meets the needs of the community.

“They really want to try to tailor it to what the community feels is needed,” Hughes said. “Once we get some survey results, I think a public forum meeting will be next on the schedule, so I think that meeting will possibly be in the summer, but definitely by fall.”

Hughes said they have already received over 500 surveys from participants, but they want to reach as many people as possible.

“I think the commission is very excited about having this opportunity from the J.F. Allen family, and they’re so grateful for the land and for the opportunity to create a recreational complex, so they really desire public input to make sure we’re meeting the needs of the citizens of the county,” Hughes said. “The input has been fabulous, and we still have a couple more days to go.”

The commission announced the J.F. Allen family had bequeathed 70 acres of land to establish a recreational complex Oct. 7, 2022. The commission is in the early planning stages of the new complex and hired Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. to create a master plan for the facility in February.

After selecting the firm, Upshur County Commissioner Sam Nolte said he hoped to receive community input on the project while they construct the master plan.

“I think we’ll figure out the main plan as we move forward with the engineering company and receive community input and make sure that we’re all rowing in the same direction,” Nolte said. “I’m excited to get to this point, and I think in the next couple of months, we’ll have a good idea of what the master plan would be for the facility.”