Clarksburg City Council Makes $350,000 Offer to Purchase Hite Field

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Clarksburg City Council has approved a $350,000 offer to purchase Hite Field from the Harrison County Board of Education, renewing the city’s effort to acquire the historic athletic property.

Council approved the offer Thursday evening after returning from an executive session involving the potential purchase of the property at 2 Stadium Drive.

A council member made a motion for the city to submit what was described as a “good-faith offer” of $350,000 to the Board of Education. The motion passed by voice vote without additional public discussion.

The city and the Harrison County Board of Education have discussed the future of Hite Field before. City officials previously requested that the property be transferred to the city and presented plans to continue using it for athletics and community recreation, but those discussions did not result in an agreement.

Dating to the 1920s, Hite Field has served generations of Clarksburg athletes and community members. The field is named in honor of Clay B. “Mud” Hite, who coached at Washington Irving High School from 1921 through 1951. Before several Harrison County high schools were consolidated, Washington Irving, Victory, Roosevelt-Wilson and Notre Dame all used the field, which later continued hosting middle school and community athletic programs.

Thursday’s action represents a renewed effort by the city, this time with a specific purchase price attached.

The council vote authorizes the city to submit the offer but does not complete a sale or transfer ownership of the property. Further action would be required before the city could take control of Hite Field.

Council members did not publicly discuss whether the $350,000 offer was based on an appraisal, how the city would fund the purchase or what specific improvements would be made if an agreement is reached.

No timeline was announced for consideration of the city’s offer.