March 1999
Our next Community Design Team Visit has been set! We will be visiting Mullens April
22-24, 1999. Mullens is southwest of Beckley (200 miles from Morgantown) nestled between
mountains and the Guyandotte River. Before discussing Mullens, it is important to let you
all know that on Jan. 6, I received the leadership "torch" for the Community
Design Team program from Scott Loveridge.
The new home for the CDT will be in the WVU Landscape Architecture Program but the Extension Service will continue to provide assistance to the CDT for the next few years. Scott will continue to have an active presence in the program, providing me with his vast knowledge and expertise. Thank you, Scott, for creating such a wonderful program! I know everyone will join me in honoring Scott for organizing such a successful and needed program for West Virginia. And I'm sure Scott would say that it would not have been possible without all of you, so I hope you will continue to be involved. I am very excited about my new role with the CDT and all the possibilities for its future.
As for Mullens... Mullens promises to be an excellent experience for team members. The community put together an impressive application package, and there appears to be strong community support for this endeavor. The local paper is publishing an on-going series of articles about the CDT process and their efforts in obtaining the services of the CDT. Some of the local issues the community has identified follow:
Coalfields Expressway - The community of Mullens soon will be affected by the creation of a new expressway with an exit at Mullens. The residents are embracing this fact and want to use the opportunity to revitalize the community's economy.
Senior Care - There is a growing elderly population in Mullens, but at this time there are no facilities for their long-term care. The community would like to be proactive in addressing this issue.
Historic Preservation - Mullens has many beautiful historic buildings that need to be preserved, including the Wyoming Hotel, the local theater, and the astonishingly beautiful Itmann Company Store.
Recreation - The people of Mullens are an athletic bunch and take advantage of the area's many recreational opportunities. The community has secured a former school building to be used for a recreation facility and would like to find ways to link it with existing facilities.
Traffic and Parking - As in many West Virginia communities, Mullens struggles with issues of too much traffic and not enough parking. They would like to find ways to alleviate both issues.
Natural Resources - The community of Mullens is geographically intertwined with the Guyandotte River. While this provides much potential for recreation and beautification, it also creates flooding problems from time to time.
Tourism - The region surrounding Mullens has a rich history of coal mining, railroads, and West Virginia culture. They have a number of impressive existing resources upon which to build.
Please consider joining the CDT trip to Mullens April 22-24. It will be a valuable experience for all. If you would like to volunteer or would like additional information, please contact me.
Interim Co-Directors: Steve McBride and Don Armstrong
Jeremy Morris, Program Assistant
Landscape Architecture Program
wvucdt@mail.wvu.edu
(304) 293-2141 Ext. 4399
Last modified:
August 31, 2004
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