MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (July 18, 2025) – A Winchester, Va.-based company was awarded a $5.7 million project for the first phase of construction to create a community park for Inwood in southern Berkeley County.
Lantz Construction Company of Winchester, Inc., submitted the low bid for the project, which was made possible by various funding sources, including more than $3 million committed by the Berkeley County Commission.
Berkeley County Commission President Eddie Gochenour credited former County Commissioners Doug Copenhaver and Dan Dulyea, U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, Gov. Patrick Morrisey, former governor, now U.S. Sen. Jim Justice, former U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, Eastern Panhandle Regional Planning & Development Council (Region 9), as well as County staff and the project engineering firm, Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc., for their efforts and support in helping make the first phase of construction possible.
The first features to be developed at the new park as part of the first phase of construction include pickleball courts, a multi-use field, walking trail and fishing pond.
Other features envisioned in the master plan for the future 31-acre park include a disc golf course, amphitheater, dog park, bike trails, playground equipment and splash park.
In addition to awarding the $5.7 million project for first phase of construction, the Berkeley County Commission on Thursday separately committed $64,050 in matching funds for a bike trails project grant application for the future park, which will be near Musselman High School.
The county was awarded $144,425 Chesapeake Bay Trust grant in June 2025 for constructing bioretention to manage runoff in the new recreation site. The project also received $1,125,000 in federal Congressionally Directed Spending, West Virginia Division of Highways TAP grant funding ($653,246) and an $800,000 grant from the West Virginia Governor's Office, The County's financial commitment for the first phase project includes approximately $2.8 million netted from a bond issue and more than $400,000 in matching funds for the various grant and funding awards received.
Background: The first of three parcels were acquired for the park project in August 2021. The future recreation site is in the vicinity of the original “Inwood Park,” which was established in the late 1800s near the Cumberland Valley Railroad (now Winchester & Western Railroad). Originally known as Strong’s Grove, the park was a popular spot for picnics, tent revivals, reunions, dances, and home of the Inwood Fair. At least a portion of the original Inwood Park was acquired by the C.H. Musselman Co. for an apple processing plant, which opened in 1921.
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