ELKINS — Elkins City Council has unanimously approved giving a $25,000 contribution from the city’s Financial Stabilization Account to support improvements at Bluegrass Park.

During Council’s Sept. 19 meeting, all 10 council members voted in favor of Resolution 1868, which authorized the $25,000 for improvements at Bluegrass Park on 227 Lough Street. The resolution also empowers City Treasurer Tracy Judy to “take all actions necessary to disburse and apply” the funds.

According to the resolution, the City of Elkins “seeks to make improvements at Bluegrass Park for the benefit of residents and visitors,” and funding to contribute to such improvements “is available in the Financial Stabilization Account.” Bluegrass Park is a city park under the management of the Elkins Parks and Recreation Commission.

Before Council voted on the resolution, City Operations Manager Michael Kesecker explained that the city and the Finance Committee had been approached by the Elkins “Elks” Babe Ruth League about the condition of the buildings at Blue Grass Park, specifically the concession stand and the bathrooms.

“They asked me to personally come out and look at the concession stand, the restrooms,” Kesecker said. “Very poor condition. Needs a lot of work done. (The Babe Ruth League) came to the appropriate committee and asked for a donation from the city to help bear the burden of the cost that’s going to be incurred in this project.”

Kesecker said the project will include new bathrooms, a redone concession stand and an HVAC system for the buildings.

“They’re using (the funding) to better accommodate the families and the kids that are playing ball there,” Kesecker said. “Make it more appealing for more people to come into the area, want to play ball there, host tournaments there, and they’re reaching out to us for some help.”

First Ward Council representative Robert Chenoweth, a member of the Finance Committee, said he believed the total cost of the project was $140,000, and that the League had fundraised a large amount of money already. Kesecker added that the League had close to 50% of their goal with their own fundraising efforts.

Third Ward representative Chris Lowther, a member of both the Finance Committee and the Elkins Parks and Recreation Commission, explained that the demolition for the project was to be done “free of charge.” Lowther said he was told a teacher at the Randolph County Technical Center will have his class make and donate cabinets to the new park buildings.

Lowther added that the Parks and Recreation Commission had approved donating $15,000 to the project during their meeting on Sept. 18. Kesecker said “no one else has committed anything,” monetary wise, to the project so far.

“They’re doing all they can,” Kesecker said. “They’re absolutely doing all they can.”