By Charles Owens
For Bluefield Daily Telegraph
PRINCETON — Area residents are already making use of two new recreational sites in Princeton.
One is a new multipurpose field, the first of several athletic fields planned for an 11-acre site near Bee Street. The field is located near the wave pool construction site.
“So the first multipurpose field as you come in there on Bee Street, it is already being utilized,” Samuel Lusk, executive director of the Princeton Economic Development Authority, said. “So the public will see that there has been some paving that has taken place for ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) parking, and gravel has been placed as well for additional parking. Soccer goals have been placed on the complex, and that was all purchased through previous grant dollars received through Delegate Joe Ellington and Senator Mark Maynard. So the city is excited about that, and the public is already using the space.”
Lusk said students are among those already using the new field.
“So on that first field, we’ve seen a lot of soccer practice,” Lusk said. “I would imagine that will continue throughout the rest of the year, depending on weather and things like that.”
Work also continues on several projects at the 11-acre site, including the wave pool and dog park.
“There’s different things still in progress on the complex,” Lusk said. “At this point, we are still sealing the parking lot next to the wave pool, and that has some things in play with the dog park, but as soon as that sealing takes place, the folks could park in that parking lot and access the dog park in the corner.”
A second recreational site in Princeton, the Princeton Mini Golf & Golf Sim facility, also continues to attract visitors. The mini-golf course will remain open through Halloween.
A second golf simulator will soon be added to the site.
“At this point, we are in the process of now installing the second golf simulator,” Lusk said. “We received the grant from the West Virginia House of Delegates through Delegate Joe Ellington and Gov. Morrisey. So the city is very excited about that. We’ve ordered the golf sim, and we have it in our possession. We are just making some adjustments on-site to get that installed, and it will be installed shortly.”
The mini-golf site was formerly known as Reel Catch. The city acquired the property last year and opened it to the public earlier this summer. It features golf simulators, the Pond House restaurant, a walking track around the pond and animatronic dinosaurs that move and roar.
The recreational site has been well received by the public, Lusk said.
“Absolutely. We’ve had an overabundance of attendance and work cited as things continue into October,” Lusk said. “We’ve announced at this point that we are going to wrap up Oct. 31. So we’re trying to get as much use as possible out of the 18-hole course between now and Oct. 31, but of course, the simulator will continue through the winter months.”
Princeton Mayor David Graham said he too has seen a lot of public interest in the new recreational sites.
“Yes we are extremely pleased with the turnout at the mini golf,” Graham said. “The first week it opened there was several hundred customers. In speaking with the young lady who runs it, she said she’s busy.”
Graham said the new pond restaurant at the mini golf site also is seeing a lot of traffic.
As for the new multi-purpose field, Graham said students have been using it for about a month now.
Lusk said residents can call to reserve either of the two golf simulators at the mini golf site during the winter months.
“That will be on reservation,” Lusk said. “So folks would be able to call and reserve. They could do that for up to 30 minutes or beyond. Whatever time they would like to play.”
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