After the dilapidated buildings are razed, what do you do with the vacant property located in a flood zone, when rebuilding is not an option because of FEMA regulations? Well, if you’re Welch Mayor Martha Moore, you build a beautiful $1.3 million River Front Park.
For a glimpse of the future park, go to the lower end of McDowell Street and take a gander at the artist’s drawing stationed at the edge of the construction site. Several buildings have already been torn down and the rolling riverbank is being filled in to create flat land for the recreation area.
Moore notes that the project began last February and that early summer is the anticipated completition date.
“I knew we had to do something to revitalize the downtown. This is a beginning,” she said. “We can’t attract businesses there without making it look better. Hopefully, the businesses we attract will be local businesses.”
As she speaks, the mayor receives a call from a person that she hopes will convert another McDowell Street building into office space or a possibly business hatchery.
“We’re not about going into business, but we can certainly do all we can to make Welch more attractive to entice businesses to want to locate here,” she says after hanging up.
In an effort to make Welch more aesthetically pleasing, Moore notes that over 30 building have already been torn down. “We just bid out 12 more and we’re ready to bid out more than that,” she says.
Building demolition isn’t the only ongoing town project; Welch continues to expand water lines to outlying areas.
“There’s never a time when we don’t have a water/sewage project going,” Moore relates. “We’ve taken in Tom’s Mountain and Maitland.”
Because of the many projects, Moore says that none of Welch’s sewers empty into the Tug River, which has created a healthy, greener environment for development.

And speaking of green, expect to see plenty of various shades of green at the River Front Park. In addition to a fishing pier, benches, special lighting, a walking space, a gathering area and possibly a gazebo, the park will be handsomely landscaped with plenty of bushes and flowering trees and shade trees. Park rangers will be stationed at the park to maintain and monitor it. Later, the park will likely feature canoe rides for those who come to enjoy its amenities.
The mayor says she has heard very few comments on the future park so it’s still too early to gauge public reaction to the project, though she anticipates that it will be positive.
“We will get it together,” she affirms. “If anyone takes a chance on us, they’ll be glad they did.”

RIVER FRONT PARK – Mayor Moore is pictured displaying a drawing of what the $1. 3 million McDowell Street River Front Park will look like. The park is slated to be complete by early summer. The town of Welch is paying for the park, without any grants. Triad Engineering, St. Albans, designed the park. McClanahan Construction, Poca, is the construction contactor. (Photo by Cathy Patton)