Learning from past missteps is key for anyone — institutions included — looking to build a stronger future. That’s why news out of Oglebay Park this week that officials there would like to work with the community moving forward on how best to deal with and manage the park’s very real deer population problem was a positive and encouraging step forward.

Local attorney Karen Kahle, a vocal opponent of Oglebay’s deer hunt in November, on Monday presented to the Wheeling Park Commission a plan for the “Deer Population Control Task Force” to help park officials with the herd at Oglebay. The plan calls for a group of up to nine people from Oglebay, the community and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources who would work on strategies to better control the park’s herd.

Estimates have placed the deer herd on the park’s property at five times the sustainable level.

“I spoke on Dec. 18 to express that the community would like to have input into what goes on with deer control going forward and asking whether the commission might consider putting together some sort of group that may include community members,” Kahle said.

This comes at a time when Oglebay is working with a wildlife biologist and the DNR to get a better understanding of the herd’s size and options to keep it from growing. The November hunt only harvested 16 deer; if the population numbers are accurate, the hunt ended up being ineffective.

Oglebay CEO Bob Peckenpaugh welcomed Kahle’s suggestion noting more community involvement would be sought in the coming months.

“The work continues by management, but we’re not at a point where we want to bring all the constituencies together,” Peckenpaugh said. “When we’ve got the names and everything from these meetings, we’ll make sure that you’re the people to get the word out.”

This is an important step forward for Oglebay. Its messaging last year with the hunt needed to be better; the park holds a special place for many in the Ohio Valley, and those folks felt betrayed by not having any input into how best to deal with the deer population.

Keeping the lines of communication open moving forward should help to alleviate the hurt feelings and personal attacks that took place last fall. The important thing to remember is that everyone involved has Oglebay’s best interests at heart.