CategoriesLetter From the Director by

Letter From the Director – May 2023

Let’s Get Ready for Summer!

With only a few days away from Memorial Day and the unofficial start to summer, our thoughts turn toward warmer days, food on the grill, and time spent with friends and family.  Fortunately, we can help you with each one of those items.

Starting on Memorial Day, and going through Labor Day, the War Memorial and Lambert Pools will be open for your enjoyment.  There is something for everyone – we have open pool use, time slots for pool parties, swim lessons, and senior swim times.  At War Memorial Park, we also have mini-golf available during the summer.  The concession stands at each pool will have food, drinks and ice cream that will be sure to cool you off.

If you want to enjoy a nice meal outside, many of our park locations have pavilions, picnic tables, and shady spots which are perfect for a quick lunch or a weekend meal.  Whether with friends or going solo, parks are a perfect place to for that burger or sandwich.

And don’t forget that you can spend time with family and friends playing games, climbing on playgrounds, going for a walk, playing disc golf, or enjoying many of the other activities in our parks.  There is something for everyone this summer – June Jubilee will be on June 11 at War Memorial Park.  We will be holding our summer concert series, kicking it off with Cashmere on June 15.  There is a summer adventure day camp starting June 5 and it goes on for 10 weeks.

While you are out exploring, check out some of the new projects that we’ve been working on.  For starters, we’ve opened a new playground at War Memorial Park.  It is located between the pool and the Norwalk Pavilion, and has two towers and lots of climbing challenges.  Next, we head to Poor House Farm Park where we are opening two new walking trails to show off the new 70-acre property that was purchased last fall.  These trails go through meadows and along the Tuscarora Creek.  We also had volunteers plant around 40 trees here this past April, setting up a great legacy for the future.

We continue other work to continuously improve our programs and facilities.  We have purchased several inflatable games that will start showing up at events and programs.  This was through a generous grant from the Noon Rotary Club of Martinsburg.  We now have an inflatable screen so that we can have family movie nights throughout the year. 

Upcoming projects include a nature-based playground at Poor House Farm Park.  We are finalizing the design, and if everything works out, it should be ready to explore in early fall.  This will be an expansive climbing structure called a Jungle Dome, and a ride-on zip line.  We will also be breaking ground on a new park in Spring Mills which should be open this fall, and the entrance road in DuPont Soccer Complex is scheduled to be paved at the end of July.

There is so much to do this summer.  Make sure to schedule some time outside.  We will see you there.

Bob Williams, CPRP

Executive Director

CategoriesOrganization Updates by

Pop Up Programming Events Coming Soon!

📢 Pop-Up Programming Events coming soon!  Thank you to the Rotary Club of Martinsburg for the $5,000 grant to provide for the purchase of multiple inflatable games that we can bring to various functions – be it our own or those in our area that we are participating in – as well as planning special pop-up fun days throughout the park system.  These are a great way to get families outdoors and active while having a great time!

⛳️ Three-Hole Mini Golf

🎯 Soccer Darts

& more!

Watch for Pop-Up Activity dates!  We can tell you that we will have a few of these games at June Jubilee on Sunday, June 11th! 😁

CategoriesPark Updates by

War Memorial Park Update (April 18th)

🚧👷 War Memorial Park Playground MONDAY UPDATE: The work started this morning with pouring concrete! 🤗

📢 Just a reminder that if you or your business would like to sponsor a play feature to add to this area, please contact our Administrative Office at info@mbcparks-rec.org or at 304-264-4842.  You can use the link below to see what options are available ⬇️:

🤝https://bit.ly/WMPPlayEquipmentSponsorDetails

🟢 NOTE: Once construction is completed, the area will be cordoned off to allow the damaged grass areas to be reseeded and undisturbed for a period of time prior to public use. We will keep you posted on this as we get closer.

Funding for this project provided by: 

Berkeley County Development Authority

Martinsburg, West Virginia – City Hall

M-BC Parks & Recreation

CategoriesPark Updates by

Rooney Park Updates

 We have had volunteers committing hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars (👏👏👏 thank you, thank you!) to improve the ball fields at Rooney Park to include new dugouts, turf and other amenities.  Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks & Recreation is committing over $16,000 to provide water and electric to the site. 

👷 Installations are expected to take place over the next few months. 

➡️ Future additions we will be looking into, as funding can be secured, is the installation of a playground and trails for recreational purposes.

CategoriesPark Updates by

Spring Mills Park Update

👀 CHECK IT OUT! 📢 In case you didn’t know, plans have been underway to provide a park in the north end of Berkeley County and construction is about to begin! With the approval of the storm water inspectors, we anticipate work will begin within the next 30 days and the estimate the overall project to be completed in 8-10 months.
📍 Located in Spring Mills where 901 & St. Andrews Drive meet
This 10-acre parcel will include (see concept rendering below):
🟢 2 pavilions
🟢 A playground (Tot Lot)
🟢 Restroom facility
🟢 A walking trail through the wooded portion of the lot
🟢 Parking area

This project has been generously funded by the Berkeley County Council – WV ($350,000) and several individual donors. Thank you! 👏

ℹ️📸 We will pass along information as well as pictures and updates as work begins. We are excited to have this new addition to the park system, providing a play, picnic and walking area for residents and visitors to that area of the county.

CategoriesPress Release by

Letter from the Director – Let’s start thinking Spring

With recent days in the 60s and 70s, and daffodils starting to pop up from the ground, it is easy to think about warm spring days and getting outside.  I think we still have a few more winter-like days ahead of us, but it won’t be too long before we can shed those big jackets.  And that is exciting.

One new way to be active outside this spring will be a new playground at War Memorial Park.  We are having a groundbreaking ceremony on March 10, and construction should be about 3-4 weeks.  The City of Martinsburg, the Berkeley County Development Authority, and the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks and Recreation Board committed the funds to make this a reality.  Be sure to check out our website and social media about the opening of the playground in April.

April 1 is the start of the pavilion rental season.  Many of the parks have pavilions of many sizes for families and groups to rent for a great day in the park.  There are 2 pavilions out at Poor House Farm Park, and multiple pavilions at War Memorial Park for use.  Several of the other parks have a gazebo which is great for meeting for lunch, or an evening meal with your family or friends.  And they are near other great park amenities, like playgrounds and trails.  Book your next event in a pavilion on the website or by calling our office.

If you are looking to make an impact this summer, consider working for Parks and Recreation!  We are currently looking for Summer Day Camp Counselors and Lifeguards.  Our staff interacts with youth and their families daily while they are out of school this summer, making a positive impact on their lives.  Often a first job for many in our community, working at Parks and Recreation gives you a start on your work or school career, giving you a hands-on experience serving people.  You can apply on-line, with links on our website under “About Us.”

There are other great projects in the works that you will hear about in more detail in the coming months.  The Board has awarded the bid to start the Spring Mills Park project.  We are meeting with the design team about the Inwood Park creation.  And little things, like painting the silo at Poor House Farm Park and putting a new roof on the small restroom at War Memorial Park, will be completed this spring in a constant effort to improve our parks.  Programs like the Summer Concert Series and June Jubilee are well into the planning stages in preparation for you all to join us this summer.

I hope that you get a chance to enjoy this warmer weather, and are looking forward to Spring.  I’ll see you outside!

Bob Williams, CPRP

Executive Director

CategoriesPress Release by

Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks & Recreation Announces New War Memorial Park Playground

Martinsburg, WV (February 10th, 2023-The Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks and Recreation (MBCPR) department is excited to announce that it is implementing one of its first improvements of 2023 with the addition of a new playground site at War Memorial Park.  

The Parks and Recreation board, staff, and Berkeley County leaders have been collaborating since 2021 to assess the mounting needs of the growing community. As the population continues to increase, the MBCPR is dedicated to upgrading the area parks and facilities for everyone in the city/county to enjoy. 

The War Memorial Park project has been a priority for the MBCPR, as they have been working diligently to collect funds to see the project to completion. Thanks to contributions from the City of Martinsburg, grant funds, the MBCPR board, and the Berkeley County Development Authority the budget has been filled with an estimated date of completion set for early April. Park visitors will see new climbers, slides, and sun-shades among the add-ons.

MBCPR Executive Director, Bob Williams is excited for the future of Parks and Recreation stating, “We seek to continue to build upon the great foundation and continue the legacy for our great and growing community.”

War Memorial Park improvements will be ongoing, any business or community member wishing to donate or sponsor future upgrades and enhancements should contact Bob Williams at 304-264-4842.

About MBCPR Master Plan-To see all the plans for MBCPR visit, MBCPR-1.3.2022_FINAL_19DEC2022_Single-Page-Layout.pdf (mbcparks-rec.org)

CategoriesPress Release by

Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks & Recreation Announces New Pickleball Courts

Martinsburg, WV (February 6th, 2023 – The Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks and Recreation (MBCPR) department is announcing the development of new pickleball courts at P.O. Faulkner Park in Martinsburg.

Providing a vast array of diverse programs and sports is a priority for MBCPR to serve the Berkeley County community. As the area’s population continues to increase, so does the interest in different sports. The development of these pickleball courts is a direct response to this expansion.

P.O. Faulkner Park will host four outdoor pickleball courts. Community members can expect the project to be completed by the Summer of 2023.

MBCPR is proud to address the growing needs of the local community. “We can’t wait to share this opportunity and new service,” says Bob Williams, Executive Director.

About MBCPR Master Plan

To see all the plans for MBCPR visit, MBCPR-1.3.2022_FINAL_19DEC2022_Single-Page-Layout.pdf (mbcparks-rec.org)

CategoriesPress Release by

A Letter from the Director – January 2023

Happy New Year Friends,

I hope that the start of your year is off to a good start.  The turn of the calendar often signifies new changes and new opportunities.  Those can be exciting, challenging, or maybe even scary.  I hope that you have the support and strength to tackle something new this year.  At MBCPR, we are no different, as we look forward to new opportunities that we want to bring to the community.

We are working on a few projects over the next couple of months that I hope you will get excited about as much as we are.  This includes new trails, a new playground, and a new park.  Let me share some details.

At Poor House Farm Park, the staff is currently working to establish about 2 miles of new nature trails.  These will get us into the newly added 70-acres that was purchased by the County last fall.  There will be a trail around the meadows on each side of the Tuscarora Creek.  In the future, we will have a bridge over the creek to connect the two sides.  We will be having a ribbon cutting once they are ready. 

At War Memorial Park, we have just received full funding and have ordered a new playground that will be installed this spring.  This will be a large-size playground that will have lots of climbing elements, slides, and other fun pieces.  It will be located along Tennessee Avenue near the Norwalk Pavilion.  Look for a banner at the location soon that will have a picture of the playground and a thank you to our sponsors. 

Also, this spring we will be breaking ground on a new park just west of the Spring Mills I-81 interchange.  The new park will have 2 pavilions, a playground, a walking trail, and restroom.  This project is currently out for bid, and we will have a ribbon cutting celebration once it is completed.

Each of these projects will have opportunities for volunteers and sponsors to enhance each of the sites.  This will include the purchasing and installation of benches, playground elements such as swings and a merry-go-round, and the planting of trees and other landscape material.  If you or your group is interested in volunteering or supporting a project, please contact us at the email or phone number listed at the bottom of this webpage. 

New years can be full of resolutions that we work on throughout the year.  We hope that one of your resolutions will be to visit a park or program in this coming year.  We are looking forward to seeing you soon.

Bob Williams, CPRP

Executive Director

CategoriesPress Release by

Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks & Recreation Announces Master Plan for Community Enhancements

Martinsburg, WV (January 20th, 2023 The Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks and Recreation (MBCPR) department has released its Master Plan that will work in conjunction with its Strategic Business Plan, created in 2021, to address the emerging needs of the Martinsburg-Berkeley County community.

Local leaders have coordinated to design a comprehensive plan that focuses on adjustments, additions, and enhancements to local parks, recreational facilities, and programs through 2032. The Berkeley County population has increased by 17% since the last census. With the population growth expected to continue, collaborating with local agencies to identify areas that are most in need of these planning efforts has been a top priority for city/county officials.

The strategic business plan is the first step of the Master Plan, it aims to address budgetary requirements and create policies and procedures that will establish a basis for the implementation of the Master Plan. The objective of the Master Plan is to determine the needs of the community and create meaningful changes to the parks and recreational facilities to better serve the diverse and growing population of Berkeley County.

MBCPR Executive Director, Bob Williams is excited for the future of Parks and Recreation stating, “We seek to continue to build upon the great foundation and continue the legacy for our great and growing community.”

About MBCPR Master Plan

To see the Master Plan visit, MBCPR-1.3.2022_FINAL_19DEC2022_Single-Page-Layout.pdf (mbcparks-rec.org).