WV Executive

At first glance, the Fourth of July at Mylan Park must have resembled the sites and sounds experienced at parks and ball fields across the nation. Baseball and softball games kept the Anker Field Complex bustling as a six-team tournament played through the afternoon. While parents and spectators cheered on their half-pint players, the players' siblings made their way to the Anker concession stand where they purchased Hawaiian Ice treats in flavors like "Tiger's Blood" and "Cotton Candy." But if you listened closely, in addition to parental cheers for a play well done, you would also hear the roar of a tractor and the rumble of a skid steer.

Nearby, barely visible through rolling clouds of dust, Mylan Park's massive Athletic Field Complex and Special Events Venue was being tilled, rock raked and groomed for seeding-a long awaited opportunity since last summer's delay because of rain.

At closer inspection, you will discover that this is no ordinary construction project. It is, after-all, a Sunday and a national holiday. It is here, and on this day, that the true meaning of a "community-supported project" comes to fruition.

A Small, Nonprofit with a Big Mission

From its inception, Mylan Park has been blessed by the generous support of the community and today is no exception. For this is not your average construction crew operating the equipment traversing the nearly 12-acre Athletic Field Complex; these are volunteers. Ranging from West Virginia Wham Semi-Pro Football coach J.T. Thomas to aerospace engineer and SAIC employee Josiah Devasirvatham, these volunteers are operating equipment that has been donated by area businesses.

Working toward the goal of providing the community and state with a multi-purpose venue that will have an impact reaching far beyond the wins and losses of sporting events, these volunteers are nurturing a community asset that will positively impact the social, educational, cultural and economic future of North Central West Virginia.

Mylan Park is a state-of-the-art, community-focused educational and recreational development project that is inspired, lead and supported by the residents and businesses of its community.

How It All Began

Mylan Park began in 1999 as a plan among friends to develop additional baseball and softball practice facilities for the region's youth. A resource in short supply, the community rallied behind the project. The project gained momentum with Anker Energy's donation of 30.5 acres of beautifully reclaimed surface-mined property, providing a home for the much-needed fields just minutes from downtown Morgantown.

The entity born to nurture this project was the Monongalia County Schools Foundation, Inc. (MCSF), a nonprofit 501(c)3 now doing business as Mylan Park. With the support of the community through the donation of countless hours of volunteer labor, equipment and supplies, the Anker Fields baseball and softball complex hosted its first home game in the spring of 2000.

With its first successful venue drawing the attention of many in the region, the Mylan Park project quickly grew into a collaborative effort among educational, business and civic leaders throughout the community. Listening closely to the desires of the community, Mylan Park's mission began to evolve and grew to include not only the goal of improving the quality of life for citizens in the region by fulfilling unmet recreational needs, but also to address the community's educational, social service and cultural needs that would otherwise go unmet. The ultimate goal is to address each of these areas of concern while having a positive economic impact on the region

Today, the 30.5 acres of donated land has grown to encompass more than 300 acres. The conceptual master plan for Mylan Park now includes 15 projects designed specifically to meet the park's mission areas.

Mylan Park is unique in its structure as a nonprofit organization as well as the magnitude of the project which it is undertaking but may be best noted for its unique approach to identifying the types of venues and entities that will reside within the park when it is completed.

Not only a "community-focused project," Mylan Park is, in the truest sense, a "community-driven project." Whether it is a baseball field designed specifically for the handicapped, an indoor soccer facility or equestrian center, it is the community's desire for the venue coupled with the community's willingness to commit to a long-term relationship with the park that ultimately places a potential project on the map.

It is the community that has inspired each of the 15 planned projects, communicating a quantifiable need within the community. The proponents of each venue or entity have also demonstrated their willingess to support the entity long term and have shown the leadership skills required to manage the project through the development process, including assisting Mylan Park with the task of garnering adequate funding and support to sustain the entity once it becomes a reality.

Most importantly, each of the projects included as part of Mylan Park's conceptual master plan falls within one of the park's four mission areas: to meet educational, recreational, social service and cultural needs that would otherwise go unmet.

The Leadership

The Monongalia County Schools Foundation, Inc. (MCSF), the entity born to oversee this project, has grown and evolved as the park's plans have grown and evolved. Seeking guidance from those that know the community's needs, the founders of the MCSF looked to educational, business and civic leaders within the community to take a leadership role. Today, the MCSF operates under the direction of a strong, 27-member volunteer board of directors.

Representatives from a wide range of organizations have taken an active role on the MCSF Board. At the helm is President Mark Nesselroad, chief executive officer of Glenmark Holding, LLC. A husband, father, sports enthusiast and community activist, Nesselroad and the other board members take their commitment to this project very seriously. "The civic and business leaders that have stepped forward to participate in the development of Mylan Park have been instrumental in providing the guidance and support needed to successfully manage a community-focused development project of this size," says Nesselroad. "We are fortunate that the members of this board have taken an active role. You just might find them spending weekends laying sod on ball fields and evenings on the phone looking for sponsors for fundraising events. We couldn't ask for a more dedicated and supportive board of directors."

The Collaboration

With a solid foundation built of dedicated community leaders and growing community support, the concept of this multi-faceted, community-focused complex continued to gain momentum. In order to maximize the Park's effectiveness, the MCSF soon began to form collaborative relationships and strategic partnerships within each of the four mission areas.

One of the park's first collaborative relationships was formed with the Monongalia county school system. Once the Anker Fields Complex was completed, the Monongalia county high schools soon began calling Mylan Park home to its spring softball and baseball seasons. But this relationship extends beyond school sporting events. For years the county had been faced with inadequate facilities to house the bus transportation center. With the purchase of additional acreage and an agreement "to build to suit," Mylan Park was able to offer the county an affordable and convenient alternative: a new transportation facility minutes from downtown Morgantown with easy access to Interstate 79.

In line with its mission to meet educational needs, Mylan Park also offered the county a new home for the Alternative Learning Center (ALC), a program designed to provide educational opportunities for at-risk teens. Relocating to vacant office space within Mylan Park's administrative office complex, the ALC students now take advantage of Mylan Park's multiple venues as part of their non-traditional learning experience.

There are also construction plans in the future for the Monongalia county schools. Approved by Monongalia county voters last fall, a bond was passed that approved the building of a new Cass Elementary School. One of the oldest schools in the county, Cass Elementary will soon find its new home in Mylan Park, just minutes from its current location in Osage. Dr. Michael Vetere, superintendent of the Monongalia county schools, explains the relationship with Mylan Park, "Mylan Park has been able to share many resources with the Monongalia county schools so that all the students will be able to share in its successes. By being involved in the facilities plan, the new school will continue to bring the community together. Mylan Park has initiated a unique blend of community, schools, volunteers and businesses so that all of West Virginia can see how community participation can be beneficial to schools and community."

Mylan Park's relationship with the schools does not end there. The middle schools utilize the park's recently re-designed, cross-country course for practices and meets and are also taking an active role in planning and building a mountain biking trail located within the park. With the guidance of South Middle School Biking Club coach Rich Martin and several community volunteers, the students are creating a mountain biking trail that will rank among the best in the county.

Mylan Park has also developed strategic partnerships with several social service organizations throughout the community. One of the longest running partnerships has been with the Westover based SteppingStones, Inc. organization. Since 1946, SteppingStones, Inc. has been in the business of providing recreational opportunities for the mentally and physically challenged. Also a nonprofit organization, SteppingStones, Inc. currently partners with Mylan Park to provide programming for the Miracle Field.

Completed in the spring of 2003, the Miracle Field is one of only three baseball fields in the country designed specifically for use by the handicapped. Featuring a MONDO surface, a rubberized surface that makes it easy to mobilize a wheelchair or walker for team play, the Miracle Field plays host to a Miracle League and TOPSoccer programs for children and adults with disabilities. To compliment this relationship, SteppingStones will also be relocating their headquarters to a new facility in Mylan Park. Set for completion in the winter of 2005, this new facility will provide much needed space and amenities for their clientele.

Recently welcoming Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Central West Virginia to the Park and nurturing a budding relationship with another local nonprofit, Pace-Tec Inc., Mylan Park continues to seek the opportunity to form strategic partnerships with like-minded social service agencies throughout the state.

Mylan Park is also enthusiastic about becoming involved in the regions thriving arts and culture community. With venues as large as the Athletic Field Complex and Special Events Venue, the park has the ability to host any number of large cultural events including fairs, festivals, art shows, concerts and the like.

In order to help Mylan Park meet its cultural mission, the park has formed an arts and culture committee assigned with the task of assessing the community's cultural needs and determining how the park may assist in meeting those needs. Composed of community volunteers, this committee is working closely with existing arts and culture focused organizations in the area.

Mylan Park is currently evaluating the inclusion of several arts and culture related venues, the largest of which is an outdoor amphitheater. Utilizing a natural bowl shaped formation on the formerly surface-mined property; Mylan Park has the ability to build an outdoor amphitheater that would seat 6,000 to 7,000 attendees. A preliminary feasibility study is currently under way and the results will provide a solid foundation on which to base future building plans.

The venues and organizations mentioned here do not represent all of the planned components of Mylan Park nor do they represent all of the organizations that have supported the development of the park to date. However, they are representative of the kinds of collaborative relationships and strategic partnerships that Mylan Park recognizes as imperative to its continued growth and development, enabling the park to fulfill its mission.

The Support

Mylan Park has come a long way in a few short years. Truly a community asset that has been cared for by many, it is also a development project that has required a significant amount of financial support.

Through continual fundraising efforts and careful planning, the Mylan Park staff has been able to secure the financial support required to purchase property, build first-class facilities, maintain the facilities and grounds and plan for future development projects.

Funding for the park has come from many sources including local, state and federal agencies. Funding sources include the United States Housing and Urban Development Fund, the Monongalia County Commission, the West Virginia Economic Development Authority and many others.

Financial support has also been provided by private and corporate foundations such as the Mylan Charitable Foundation, the George W. Bowers Family Charitable Trust, Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. But not to be forgotten are the individuals, children and adults and businesses, that have made a financial investment in a community asset that will enhance and enrich the lives of all who venture through its gates.

Merely beginning to realize its full potential, Mylan Park's growth is due to the dedication of a community brimming with inspiration, teams of active community volunteers and the financial and moral support of visionary leadership that is truly dedicated to making this facility a success.

Whether it is a friendly consultation, financial contribution or the donation of labor, equipment or materials, Mylan Park could not have grown into the quality facility it is today without the continued support of the community. A shining example of what can be done when a community pulls together, Mylan Park holds a promise to bring an unparalleled, unique and memorable community asset to life.