City of Wheeling officials are excited and thankful for Gov. Jim Justice’s support as he allocated $1.7 million for Wheeling Robrecht Riverfront Park Pedestrian Improvements. The funds will be utilized construct pedestrian/bicycle walkways and trails in the Robrecht Riverfront Park area of Wheeling Creek and the Ohio River. Governor Justice announced the award Thursday.

City Manager Robert Herron said Gov. Justice has once again shown his commitment to the citizens of West Virginia, particularly the City of Wheeling with this wonderful grant.

“This $1.7 million grant will enable the city to develop the former Robrecht site into a beautiful downtown riverfront park. From the Roads to Prosperity to the Downtown Streetscape Project to the Heritage Gateway Project, important demolition funds for dilapidated houses to critical bridge projects, traffic signalization upgrades to ADA sidewalk improvements as well as several others, the Justice Administration has truly been engaged in our city’s economic and community wellbeing,” Herron said. “This grant will go on top of a planning grant, again awarded by the Governor to develop this large, vacant and environmentally challenged site into a marquee downtown park that will not only greatly enhance the downtown but will also provide recreational access to the Ohio River and Wheeling Creek. On behalf of the City of Wheeling, I would like to thank the Governor for this grant. Be assured that we will get started on this project as soon as possible.”

Also, in addition, a bike lane connector grant of $40,000 awarded to the Ohio Valley Trail Partners will be an exceptional enhancement to the ever-popular Wheeling Heritage Trail System.