Fairmont State University has once again seen its proposal for a $750,000 upgrade to the baseball turf at Mary Lou Retton Park knocked down by the Marion County Board of Education, marking the second straight meeting in which the request failed to gain approval.
The scheme envisioned new playing surfaces for four diamonds, aiming to give the university’s baseball program a modernized home field within the county it once called home, while also easing the financial burden of playing elsewhere.
Under the original plan, the county would have contributed $750,000, the university $500,000, and a private donor pledged $2 million, a combination that would have covered the full cost of the renovation.
Currently, the school’s baseball team competes at Mylan Park in Morgantown, a venue that incurs an annual fee of roughly $5,000, a cost that the university hopes to avoid by returning to Marion County’s facilities.
Board’s Perspective
Board member Sam Brunett pointed to a litany of other infrastructure priorities facing the district, arguing that limited public funds must be allocated where they can serve the broader student body and community.
The board also requested additional details on maintenance responsibilities and operational plans should the project ever be approved, seeking assurances that the investment would be sustainable over the long term.
Looking ahead
To help mediate the discussion, a liaison from the state Department of Education has been appointed, with Susan Collins, executive director of the West Virginia Association of School Administrators, slated to oversee the role. The university says it will continue to engage with county officials, hoping that future iterations of the proposal will incorporate the board’s concerns while still delivering a modern facility for its athletes.