News & Reviews News Wire Norfolk Southern to fund $25 million renovation of East Palestine park

Norfolk Southern to fund $25 million renovation of East Palestine park

By Trains Staff | June 21, 2023

| Last updated on February 4, 2024

Aquatics center, baseball fields, tennis and basketball courts, amphitheater part of park plan

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Norfolk Southern logoEAST PALESTINE — East Palestine’s city council has approved a master plan for revitalizing the city’s main park, a project being funded entirely by Norfolk Southern.

The park improvements are expected to cost more than $25 million, bringing the railroad’s total financial commitment to the community since the Feb. 3 derailment to approximately $62 million, reports the Youngstown Vindicator newspaper.

“This is a long process and it’s going to take a lot to get cleaned up, but after what we saw tonight, I believe this village is going to be better than it was before the derailment,” East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway said, according to the newspaper. “It seems like Norfolk Southern is trying to make it right and I just ask for everyone’s patience through this process.”

Elements of the plan approved Tuesday for East Palestine City Park include a new aquatic center, three new playgrounds, upgraded baseball fields, new basketball and tennis courts, and a new amphitheater.

4 thoughts on “Norfolk Southern to fund $25 million renovation of East Palestine park

  1. Really? That’s what they’re offering? And how does a town of under 5000 people have a park that requires a $25M renovation?

    They poisoned an entire town but a park will make it better?

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