Parkersburg? (Vienna, Man: neighborhood, schools, DMV)

[pers]

Originally Posted by themoxyrox

Parkersburg has to be by far the WORST place I have ever lived.

Here is my honest and a bit long opionon:

The Streets and Sidewalks - Potholes, potholes, POTHOLES. Whose pocket is the money for road repairs going into? And what sidewalks there actually are in the city look like crap, except for the handicap access corners, they rip them out and replace them every year. Yet dowtowns streets and sidewalks look great for 2 reasons 1) nobody goes downtown and 2) because there is nothing downtown.

The roads aren't great--I'll definitely give you that! Then again, that's not unique to Parkersburg or even WV. Have you driven in PA? Eek!

I also agree that the downtown area is rather lacking, which I believe is really unfortunate. There have been efforts to revitalize but not much seems to come of it. However, there are some neat places to eat downtown and it's a great walk as there are some interesting buildings. I wish it had more too, but Parkersburg isn't that big and to be honest, I'm not sure what could go in there that would thrive. It's easier to just head to Vienna because that's where the majority of shops, restrautants and mall are.

Driving - Now I know why my auto insurance cost so much here. Where do you people get your license at?

Lazy Cops - Driving down Dudley Ave. my car overheats, so I pull into the parking lot beside the DMV, pop the hood and fiddle with the radiator cap thinking its loose. Turn it the wrong way -BOOM!- it explodes spraying hot antifreeze all over the place. All the while there is a cop sitting in his car in the DMV parking lot facing me, and had he not been sleeping (or passed out in a donut coma) he could have offered assistance to a young woman in need of help. Instead a kind stranger (from Ohio) pulled over to make sure I was alright and offered help.

Rude People - Is it the air around here that makes everbody go out their way to be rude?

To be fair, you aren't exactly showing yourself off as a beacon of kindness either.

I am not a life-long resident and I'm looking to move out of WV but I really can't agree with your representation of Parkersburg at all. I've always found the people to be friendly and helpful. I recall once when I hit something out on Rosemar Rd in the middle of the night I pulled over and went to discover a cat that was alive but obviously dying. I was horrified and didn't know what I was going to do when two men pulled over to see what was wrong and dealt with the cat so I wouldn't have to. Once I had a car break down on Grand Central by 19th street and a man pushed my car into a church parking lot and waited with me till help arrived. I have tons more examples from my time here.

There is plenty I don't like about Parkersburg but the attitude and friendliness of the people here is not anywhere on my list.

Pollution - What is that looming gray stuff thats always in the sky and seems to settle on everything. "Mid Ohio Valley Crud" as someone I know described it.

Health - Before moving here, me and my family never got sick, yet after living here for 8 years its a common part of life now. "Cancer Capitol", I haven't done the research, but I believe it. Again someone I know made up the "Cancer Capitol" nickname, so I take no credit.

The chemical plants have provided jobs to the area but they've done a number on the environment. Also, I've never heard that the cancer rate in this area is higher than elsewhere but allergies are very common. I only get sick about once a year, but I did that before living here too so can't complain.

Entertainment - Where to go, what to do? You could always go out for dinner, tons of restruants, take your pick. But I want to go shopping. Well go to south side Wal-Mart. They don't have what you need? Go to the Vienna Wal-Mart! Still no luck, well you could try the mall, but half of the stores in it are closed...

Outdoor Fun - 2 words: City Park. 2 more words: Crap Hole. Couldn't they hire someone to clean the goose crap of the walk ways? But whats the point, nothing ever happens at City Park! Fireworks on the 4th of July, big wow. Rest of the year, nothing.

I agree about the entertainment! I'm not into shopping but the options are limited for entertainment outside of dinners and movies unless you want to do something outdoors. My friends and I vary in age from 20's to 50's and all agree there isn't much to do here, particularly if you don't have school-age children.

There are some small museums but they are small and the exhibits don't change often. There is some local theatre but again, it's small so there's not always something going on.

This is a big reason I'm looking to leave the area actually. Friends and I went to a late movie just this weekend and when we left the theatre the mall is closed which left us standing in the parking lot discussing the movie. As we're standing there we noticed pockets of 5-6 people dotting the entire parking lot all engaged in coversation. The mall had been closed for hours so we knew they had just left the theatre and I'm sure were standing there for the same reason we were--there is nowhere else to go. These weren't kids by the way, they were all adults and I'd guess most fell in the the 35+ crowd. We ended up at the Mountaineer but it would have been nice to have an option that wasn't a dive or bar.

I totally disagree about the parks as well. City Park and Southwood Park are most popular I think but there are plenty of other parks as well. Quincy Park has a great view and is only crowded at homecoming. Plus there is Point Park, Mountwood, Corning and various little neighborhood parks. If you are up for it, Blennerhasset Island is a great trip and North Bend is worth the drive as well. There is also a nature preserve over on 36th street and while I know there were plans to develop it further I'm not sure how much has been done with it.

As for happenings at City Park, well, I have to disagree there as well. http://www.parkersburg-wv.com/events...masterlist.pdf

Weather - The craziest I have ever seen. It could be hot and humid one day, freezing cold the next, hot again the next day, etc. Must be the "Valley".

And this would be the other big reason I'm leaving! Though mine is less about the up and down weather and more about the winters. I've had my fill of cold and wet and am looking to move somewhere nice and warm without all this humidity!

The Ghetto - Don't ever stop to get gas at Kompak or Go-Mart on 16th and St. Mary's after dark. As Clark Griswold would say, "Roll "em Up!" Don't get the joke? Watch Nation Lampoon's Vacation and you'll figure it out!

You have got to be kidding me. There are some areas I wouldn't choose to live in but Parkersburg doesn't have anything even resembling a ghetto. There is absolutely nowhere in Parkersburg I wouldn't be 100% comfortable walking around after dark alone as a woman. Places I'd rather not park my car? Sure, there's a risk of someone busting a window to steal something (not likely to be my car, usually it's kids taking valuables) or I might risk vandalism. But concern for my personal safety? No way.

Schools - Whoever said they were "top notch", has to be joking. But I won't even get into that.

I don't have children in school so I'm not really sure how one judges such things. However, I did graduate from PHS and they have an extensive offering of AP classes (78.6% of students score 3+) and college courses that are available to students. I did find a link some may find useful (Parkersburg is under Wood County). http://wvde.state.wv.us/data/report_...02005-2006.pdf

There are also a variety of extracurricular activities and vocational classes available for those who are interested. With regards to sports, PHS finished second in ESPN's TitleTown competition and I know a couple of years ago Sports Illustrated ranked them highly as well. From a student perspective, once I got to college and learned what other students were coming from, I really appreciated what PHS had to offer.

Crime - The statistics for these on City Data are way off. An innocent kid gets shot in the chest with a 12 guage over a simple neighbor dispute and the shooter isn't arrested? O.K.

Raoming Pitbulls - When you call the Humane Society multiple times about pitbulls raoming free in your neigborhood, trying to bite small kids, do you think they come out and do anything about it. NOPE. You have to fend for yourself in your own yard.

Someone else already covered the recent shooting so I won't bother.

I also can't speak to the roaming pitbulls, though I am curious about which area of Parkersburg you live in since this is really not something I see often...actually, ever. I've seen plenty of roaming cats though!

Empty Buildings - We got a lot of them. No major retailors would come here, even before the ecomony went downhill.

Which retail stores would you like? Target and Costco are the only two I can think of that someone might feel is missing.

[themoxyrox]

How is there more than meets the eye. He was sticking up for his younger brother, because his redneck neighbor was making fun of him dating a black girl.

Did you not read the article? Illiteracy runs rampant through WV schools.

[WVUPharm2007]

The Ghetto - Don't ever stop to get gas at Kompak or Go-Mart on 16th and St. Mary's after dark. As Clark Griswold would say, "Roll "em Up!" Don't get the joke? Watch Nation Lampoon's Vacation and you'll figure it out!

lmao...that's pretty much the neighborhood I grew up in. We used to call that Go Mart the "Ghettomart."

But, yeah, after experiencing some real ghettos in Philly, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh...it's seriously laughable to think that area of town is that bad at all. It's probably the poorest neighborhood in town...but its actually pretty safe...

[themoxyrox]

I have drove in PA, and the roads aren't nearly as bad as these. Having lived in Eastern PA to Western CA and in between, the only place that has worse roads than P'Burg is Canton Ohio. At least they have an excuse, they funnel all their money into the Football Hall Of Fame and the area surrounding it (while they rest of the city goes to hell).

And I have experienced real ghettos, being born and raised most of my life in the Cleveland area. And when I get scared pumping gas after dark, then the area must be pretty damn bad.

[themoxyrox]

Originally Posted by pers

To be fair, you aren't exactly showing yourself off as a beacon of kindness either.

Believe me, I am being kind. I could tell you flat out what I really think of this place, but that would get me slapped off these boards.

[WVUPharm2007]

Originally Posted by themoxyrox

And I have experienced real ghettos, being born and raised most of my life in the Cleveland area. And when I get scared pumping gas after dark, then the area must be pretty damn bad.

No....just....no. I grew up in that neighborhood. It really isn't bad at all. And if you've seen East Cleveland...you know...especially when you get to like the East 130s...and if then in comparison you think f'ing Parkersburg is "scary" after being around that area of Cleveland...sorry...you're nuts. I wish Parkersburg was that exciting...I wouldn't have been as bored during my teenage years. Sorry...I've been around...you're just being scared for no real reason...or you have a bizarre, irrational fear of a boring town in BFE...

[bballjunkie]

Originally Posted by themoxyrox

How is there more than meets the eye.

Did you not read the article? Illiteracy runs rampant through WV schools.

Not many illiterates have a Masters Degree like I have earned.

The police press release made it quite clear: "The incident raises issues not present in the vast majority of shooting incidents such as a homeowner's right to self protection and as a result is the type of case that may be presented to a special grand jury for consideration,"

I wish you well with your search for life outside of Parkersburg and Wood County and WV. The sooner the better for all of us who like it in this area.

I am done with this thread as I refuse to waste any more of my time with such a closed mind.

[pers]

Originally Posted by themoxyrox

How is there more than meets the eye. He was sticking up for his younger brother, because his redneck neighbor was making fun of him dating a black girl.

Did you not read the article? Illiteracy runs rampant through WV schools.

I don't care where you live, when you go to someone's home and get in a verbal argument, if you go home and then return to that person's home and they answer the door with a shotgun you leave! You do not attempt to take the gun away from them!

Could you post your link regarding illiteracy in WV schools please? I posted one showing that isn't true so I'd like to see where you are getting your info.

Parkersburg isn't for everyone (myself included) however it has plenty of positives for many people. If I had kids, I would most likely stay here because I do think it's a good place to raise a family.

[CSL1919]

Unfortunately I cannot say that Parkersburg's schools are top notch. I used to live there and had couple of kids from junior high and high schools. Although there are, it was not easy to find great teachers. Overall they can be just average schools at the most. I left and major issue was kid's schools.

[IveHadEnough]

Compared to just about every other place in wv, Parkersburg schools are the best.

Sure, you have the GW's in charleston, but PHS, and even PSHS are light years ahead of the Riversides, and the Capitals. Top to bottom, all grades included, Wood county schools might just be the best school system in the whole state, save maybe some eastern panhandle ones (maybe Berkeley or Jefferson, but they may not have eclipsed Wood yet. But they are quickly gaining).

Parkersburg is the perfect, sleepy little WV town, that is almost big enough to not be sleepy.

If you are looking for excitement and nightlife, you will NOT find it in Parkersburg (nor, anywhere in WV, for that matter). But to raise a family? It's perfect.