For Wheeling to reinvent itself, it needs more than just tax dollars thrown at every problem or project that comes along. Those dollars only go so far. That’s why we were encouraged by the $20,000 donation last week from the Bertol family and the Wheeling Knights of Columbus in memory of Cole Bertol to help make the Robrecht Riverfront Park just south of Wheeling Creek on Main Street a reality

Bertol died unexpectedly in 2021, at age 26. His family asked for donations in lieu of flowers to be made to the Knights of Columbus Council 504 in Wheeling where his father, Art Bertol, had been an active member for many years.

Those contributions came in strong, and Knights of Columbus members had been looking for a project. The Robrecht site fit the bill.

“We collected about $11,000, and we were waiting for something like this to come about,” Knights of Columbus member Ray Blust said, noting the planned park fit with Bertol’s passion for the outdoors.

As the riverfront project progressed and the city secured funding, the Knights started raising more money, gathering an additional $9,000 for the donation.

What a great show of support for Wheeling. Not only does it honor Cole Bertol’s memory, but it should serve as the catalyst for more private donations to the park. That’s what our city needs more of — true public-private projects that help form a vision for the future.

The Bertol family and the Knights of Columbus deserve praise not only for finding a way to honor Cole’s memory, but also for investing in Wheeling’s future. Wheeling needs more public-private partnerships to truly find its future.