Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
The pavilion and fireplace at the Marlinton mini park has been used by the community for gatherings – both positive and negative – for many years.
Although it was intended to be a nice place for families to enjoy the playground and access to the river, there were also activities taking place there that were less than savory and definitely not legal.
After installing security cameras at the pavilion, the town of Marlinton realized just how bad it had gotten.
“People were not able to use the fireplace and area the way it was intended,” Mayor Sam Felton said. “I decided since nobody was able to use the fireplace as intended, I sent the guys over there to tear the fireplace down. Just take it out.”
The problem was, the fireplace was an integral part of the structure and once it was gone, the pavilion became unsafe. It was at that time, the town decided to completely demolish the structure for safety reasons.
As the town came up with ideas for improving the park and replacing the pavilion, it was decided to name the park “Roger L. Trusler Memorial Park” in memory of Trusler, who was a pillar of the community and member of town council.
Trusler spent decades giving back to the community with many endeavors, including his time as a grant writer for the board of education and his efforts in getting the Community Wellness Center built in Marlinton.
After his passing in 2024, the town started a project to raise funds for a new pavilion to honor his memory.
“The [Trusler] family themselves made a significant contribution when they found out what we wanted to do,” Felton said. “We gained some private donations. Then we were fortunate enough to also receive a Snowshoe Foundation grant.”
With the funds gathered, it was time to choose a pavilion. Felton said he searched and found a company in Maryland that sold Amish-made pavilions. He traveled to Deep Creek Lake to see a model and knew it was exactly what they were looking for.
“When I saw the model, I said, ‘this is what we want,’” he said. “Same roof, certainly, lighter ceiling underneath. I thought it matched good. It looks like it’s been sitting there the whole time.”
The project was put out for bid and was underway in July. The pavilion went up so quickly due in large part to the addition of help from a crew from New River Electrical.
“One of the guys at New River Electrical called to see if there were any community projects they could help with,” Felton said. “They said once a summer they try to do some community work.”
A crew of men volunteered their time and helped prepare the concrete slab for the pavilion.
“A couple other guys joined in also, from different companies,” Felton said. “That was tremendous. I can’t overstate how much work that was – and all for free. We paid for materials, and I bought them some pizza that day, but beyond that, they did all that work for free.
“Those guys work away during the week, so when you come home and devote a Friday or a Saturday to a project like that – it’s good to know there’s still folks willing to do that,” he added.
The pavilion is complete and ready for use. Felton said there is a plan in motion to have an official dedication sometime this fall, as well as plans for landscaping and a sign for the “Roger L. Trusler Memorial Park.”
