An editorial from the Williamson Daily News
WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — The state’s decision of making drastic changes to the Laurel Lake Wildlife Management Area will be devastating to Mingo County.
Due to budget cuts across West Virginia, some local parks will see many of their recreational attractions shut down. This included Laurel Lake, which was opened in the early 1960s.
The Division of Natural Resources Director, Robert “Bob” Fala, told media sources that out of their $1 million cut from the budget, about $600,000 affects Parks and Recreation.
“Our Foundation has quite a bit of work up there. We’ve worked with Justin (Marcum), received a grant through him and Mingo County Commission, and received the grant through the 1st and 10 Foundation,” said Lola Lackey, Secretary and Treasurer of the Laure Lake Wildlife Management Area Foundation, Inc. Her family is a resident of that community and they are big advocates of the recreational area.
Lackey said the organization worked with local government officials and companies to purchase new playground equipment, which had not been updated in years.
“We worked with Consol to buy new swings and riding toys,” Lackey said. “We worked with Cotiga Development to obtain funds to put electricity in two of the (picnic) shelters. “
The group worked with former State Senator Truman Chafin to get the swimming pool repaired and renovated.
“An action like this is something that our area definitely does not need. While we may be a rural area, our people do not need to be made recreationally and culturally impoverished…
