THIS MATTERS Westover T H E C I T Y ON T H E R I S E
SUMMIT UP Lots of great hikes can be enjoyed in and near town. Here are just a few. WVU’S CORE ARBORETUM See primeval Morgantown at WVU’s Core Arboretum— an old-growth forest preserve right beside the Coliseum. Three miles of trails span a 200-foot elevation gain. arboretum.wvu.edu FALLING RUN GREENSPACE For creekside tranquility, head to the Falling Run Greenspace. This urban oasis can be accessed from Outlook Street. It has the only waterfalls in town. fallingrun.wvu.edu TOM’S RUN PRESERVE The hundreds of acres of old-growth forest at Tom’s Run Preserve off of Little Falls Road 7 miles south of town have two loop trails. wvlandtrust.org RAVEN ROCK Drive out to Coopers Rock State Forest and hike the Raven Rock trail for a jaw- dropping view—arguably better than the one from the easily reached Coopers Rock overlook. wvstateparks.com ROCK CITY Or if you prefer leafy serenity, head to Coopers
the urban area often referred to as “Morgantown” is actually a mash-up of four independent towns—in addition to Morgantown proper, there are also Granville, Star City, and the second-largest of the sister cities, Westover. The bridge over the Monongahela River at Morgantown’s Pleasant Street leads to Holland Avenue, the main street through old Westover. Uphill, to the left, and downhill, to the right, stately, century-old homes with mature trees line neat grids of streets. Many homes in this part of Westover look across the river to Morgantown. This early core of Westover expanded by annexing communities that formed farther out along the Holland Avenue and Fairmont Road commercial corridors. Homes in the former Riverside, Maple Grove, Morgan Heights, and Fairmor date more often to the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s. Recent annexations of adjacent shopping centers have filled Westover’s coffers, meaning city services like paving, snow removal, and fire and police response are well-funded. Updates at Westover City Park, a recreation hub since the 1950s, have refreshed the little league ballfields, roofed bocce courts, and completed a new walking trail. Some families have lived in Westover for generations. And some newcomers prefer it over Morgantown: streets are quieter, and, especially in the old part of Westover, homes with historic character and great views can be had more affordably than anywhere in Morgantown—and yet they’re an easy walk or bike ride from downtown. With I-79 and those nearby shopping centers just a few minutes’ drive away, Westover offers its residents an affordable, family-friendly, and convenient lifestyle.
GENERAL AREA On the west side of the Monongahela River, across from downtown Morgantown SCHOOLS Skyview Elementary, Westwood Middle, University High AVERAGE SALE PRICE 2020 $151,000 INTERESTING FACT Westover is the only town in Monongalia County that has a full-time mayor.
Rock and take the trail down to the stunning boulders of Rock City. wvstateparks.com
44 MORGANTOWN SUMMER 2021
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