Clay county, specifically the city of clay area, is severely lacking in an outdoor sports focused recreational area. Other counties around ours have wonderful team sport facilities, and still we have failed to capitalize and provide a space for skateboarding, bmx style biking, scootering and other individual extreme sports. West Virginia has some wonderful skateparks scattered throughout the state, but the closest to the Clay area is located in kanawha county, aside from the DiY in the back yard.  Clay county is prime for an outdoor professionally designed concrete recreation area for skateboarding and other extreme sports.

This year skateboarding will take center stage at the Olympics, yet we have provided our children with no place to pursue this sport and others like it. The city of clay has the funds for trails and 911 centers and other projects with additional phases still under development which could easily provide ample space for such a project. There are plenty of areas through the town of clay that prove to have adequate space for such developments that sit unused.

An extreme sport recreation area in clay would ultimately generate revenue for all surrounding cities, the county and small businesses by attracting visitors from all over the area. Help me garner enough signatures and support for our local city leaders and county officials to take notice and develop a plan. Whether it’s in ivydale, big otter, clay or another area, our county is in need!