Beau Park leaders say $60M in upgrades are underway, preview Neighborhood Tuesdays and Marilla Center renovation

Beau Park officials told the Mic'd Up Morgantown podcast that they are addressing a large backlog of facility repairs and upgrades identified in 2020 while rolling out a year-long community events series and bringing several rental facilities back online.

"About back in 2020, there was identified some about $60,000,000 in capital projects and deferred maintenance that needed to happen to our aging facilities," said Greg Trevinsky, executive director of Beau Park. He listed pools, skate parks, ice arenas, tennis and pickleball courts, playgrounds, pavilions and restrooms among projects being completed.

The timeline matters to residents because many projects are scheduled to finish in 2026, returning more park space and amenities to public use. "2026 is a pretty big year for us," said Rhys Starczyk, Beau Park’s director of marketing and communications, describing the year as a milestone for project wrap-ups.

Beau Park also previewed Neighborhood Tuesdays, a year-long series of free and low-cost events intended to engage neighborhoods and highlight facilities. "We had a free skate time at the Beau Park Ice Arena, and then we also did an open house at the Wiles Hill Community Center," Starczyk said. Upcoming Neighborhood Tuesdays events, the staff said, include an egg hunt and a "try it" session at the Biltmore Sports Complex where organizers will roll out turf for casual games such as kickball and wiffle ball.

The park system emphasized community-focused programming beyond seasonal events. Trevinsky said Beau Park runs recurring offerings—from Totsicles and public skate sessions to fitness and art classes—and relies on partners and experts to expand capacity. "Partners always make things better, and some people do things better than you," he said, describing a planning process that begins with a small internal team, budgeting and partner selection.

Staffing and operations were discussed as part of the system’s capacity to deliver programs. "We only have 17 full time employees, so it's always good to collaborate with different organizations," Starczyk said, citing regular collaboration with groups such as the Municipal League and Citizens Academy. Trevinsky added that about 18 parks are maintained across Beau Park’s system, including dog parks, action-sports areas and portions of the rail trail.

Several rental facilities that have been offline for upgrades will reopen, the guests said. Trevinsky said pavilions and popular spaces are being renovated and noted that the Marilla Recreation Center will be renovated and is expected to finish in early 2027. Starczyk listed indoor rental options that remain available now: Dorsey's Knob Lodge, the Wiles Hill Community Center gymnasium and the Beau Park Ice Arena.

For residents seeking information, Starczyk suggested emailing "admin office at Beau Park dot org" or calling to speak with staff members such as Brie or Greg, and encouraged meeting staff at neighborhood events. The guests framed outreach as an effort to humanize the park system and invite public input.

The podcast episode ended with the hosts thanking the guests and encouraging listeners to follow Mic'd Up Morgantown on social media and submit questions for future shows. The park leaders said they expect to see more public use of improved facilities as projects wrap up through 2026 and into early 2027.