Huntington recreation committee forwards PATH engineering contract and trail-extension resolution to council

The Huntington Recreation Committee unanimously voted March 9 to forward an ordinance and a resolution to the full city council that would allow the mayor to contract for engineering services and for a contract extension on a new section of the Paul Ambrose Trail For Health (PATH).

Mister Parsley, presenting the proposal, said the new section would connect Harris Riverfront Park with the West End Levee Trail along West 3rd Street and confirmed the project is funded by the Federal Lands Access Program. "This project is paid for by the Federal Lands Access Program and requires no local match," Mister Parsley said. Miss Miller stated, "The total cost for engineering is $221,200."

The ordinance (2026-o-09) would authorize the mayor to enter into an agreement with the West Virginia Department of Transportation Division of Highways for engineering services on the new PATH segment. The resolution (2026-r-18) would authorize the mayor to enter into a contract with GAI Consultants to extend the Levee Trail to Harris Riverfront Park. Mister Parsley told the committee the two items cover the same project and the same dollar amount.

Committee members confirmed the funding source and that no city matching funds are required. A motion to forward the ordinance to full council with a favorable recommendation was made and seconded; the chair then called for a voice vote and recorded the ayes with no opposition. The committee took the same action on the resolution, again forwarding it to council with a favorable recommendation by voice vote.

The referrals place the ordinance and resolution on the full city council's agenda for final consideration. The committee had no further business and adjourned.

Actions at a glance: ordinance 2026-o-09 — forwarded to full council with a favorable recommendation (voice vote, mover: Miss Rumbaugh, second: Miss Holly; no nay votes recorded); resolution 2026-r-18 — forwarded to full council with a favorable recommendation (voice vote; mover: Miss Holly, second: Mister Sweeney; no nay votes recorded).