MCDOWELL COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Marshall University sociology and anthropology students have completed a new community improvement project in McDowell County, creating downtown walking paths in the town of War aimed at improving access to safe, pedestrian-friendly exercise.
The project was carried out by students in Professor Kristi McLeod’s sociology class and marks the second consecutive year the class has partnered with the community.
Funding for the effort was provided through a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission as part of the Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative.
The work followed a previous project completed in fall 2024, when students developed a community garden in War through the same initiative.
This year’s project involved three trips to War. During the first visit, which coincided with the town’s Fall Festival, students interviewed residents to gather input on what they would like to see in a walking and fitness path.
Based on those discussions, students identified locations inside the fence line of the community park and playground, as well as through the downtown area, as the best options for the paths.
“We took a second trip down in early October to pitch our ideas to members of the city council and the mayor and came to an agreement on the details,” McLeod said.
The town recently purchased benches for the walking path, and additional benches were purchased by the Marshall students using ARC funding.
The group also installed fitness signs and a larger sign highlighting both the Kiwanis Fitness Path inside the playground and park, where the local Kiwanis Club has contributed significant work, and the Miner City Walking Path, named after the town’s original name.
“There will also be brochure holders installed for local eateries and events. Students in the class designed all of the signs,” McLeod said.
Students made a third visit to War during the fall semester to assist with the community’s third annual Falling Leaves Festival and to install the new signage for both paths.
Students who have participated in the project over the past two years include sociology and anthropology majors Russell Fraley, Justin Pullins, Savannah Rice, Kyleigh Hoey, Abigail Carney, Anna Akers and Cecelia Burke. Additional students involved this year were Evan Ferguson, Kurt Schade and Nico Pace.
For Marshall senior Justin Pullins, who is majoring in sociology as well as natural resources and recreation management, working in War had personal significance.
“Growing up in a town of fewer than 600 people, I learned early on that community isn’t just a word — it’s a way of life,” Pullins said.
“When someone is struggling, you step in. When something needs to be done, you do it together. That very perspective guided me when I joined efforts to bring much-needed aid to the community of War. Like many small towns, War faces the challenges of population decline and limited resources, yet it remains full of heart, history, and resilience.”
Pullins said the projects he has been involved with in War reinforced the importance of small towns across the state.
“They deserve visibility, investment and compassion,” he said. “Supporting small town communities is not just about meeting needs in the moment, but instead about helping them reclaim the pride and potential that have always defined them.”
