New Hydration Station Available for Moundsville Residents

MOUNDSVILLE - Parents, children and pets at East End Park will have their hydration needs met by the new hydration station installed next to the playground.

The free water source, funded by a Be Active grant provided through the Center for ActiveWV, includes a bi-level drinking fountain, bottle filling station and pet water dispenser.

The Marshall County Family Resource Network first approached city officials six months ago to inform them that a Be Active grant was available to install a fountain at the park. Moundsville Mayor Sara Wood-Shaw, who also serves as the Marshall County FRN's Outreach Coordinator, wrote the grant to secure the funding.

The $4,000 grant funded the fountain's purchase and installation by city employees.

Marshall County FRN employees, Marshall County Chamber of Commerce members, city leadership and employees gathered on Wednesday afternoon to cut the ribbon on the hydration station.

City Manager Rick Healy noted that the fountain was placed at a "great location" in the park next to the playground and only "about 150 feet" from the Four Seasons Pool.

"I don't remember there ever being a fountain at this park, so I think it's a great addition here," Healy said. "This was all done completely at no cost to the city."

Wood-Shaw also noted that the city's most frequented park would now have a fountain.

"The reason we picked this park is because the city has invested a lot of updating this park," Wood-Shaw said. "We've updated parks all across the city, but this one is in a walkable area accessible by a lot of the town. We see a lot of kids, parents and grandparents here, so it's a heavily utilized facility."

In addition to providing water for humans at the park, Healy noted that pets would also be catered to with a fountain at their level.

"We get an enormous amount of pet traffic from people walking their dogs on our trail, which is a half-mile loop," Healy said. "It's nice to have that as well, and it's also encouraging people to drink water as opposed to Gatorade or pop."

Wood-Shaw added that the fountain is not only an essential resource during "80 or 90-degree days," but any day someone is outside for an extended period.

"When we see kids coming to the park by themselves, we want to make sure that they're staying hydrated if they don't have a water bottle," Wood-Shaw said. "We're hoping people will choose the fountain instead of an unhealthy drink. Providing that alternative, healthier option for free is important."

The Marshall County FRN also provides water bottles for the refilling station, available for residents at the Four Seasons pool.

"The new hydration station is both a physical improvement to East End Park and a gain for residents by promoting hydration while increasing access to clean, safe drinking water," Marshall County FRN Executive Director Kimberli Green said. "The FRN extends its gratitude to the Center for ActiveWV for funding this project and to the City of Moundsville for partnering with us to make it a reality."