WHEELING, W.Va.—

Wheeling city officials are looking for the community's input on what to do with the old North Park landfill.

Wheeling Community Development Specialist Melissa Thompson told NEWS9 that the landfill has been closed since 1994.

"It was used from 1971 to 1983 on the first site, and then again from 1983 until it closed," said Thompson.

The city, which received a $5,000 grant to get the preliminary stages going, is really hoping to develop the land based on community needs.

Thompson said that the city is looking to only use the old landfill for recreational purposes. Buildings cannot be constructed on the site because the earth below is all fill and is not stable.

"We've had some ideas of a baseball field, maybe just opening the area for a park. This is why we want to hear from the residents," said Thompson.

After it gets some public input, the city will then come up with a design or a list of ideas for the land. However, construction activity or redevelopment won't be able to start without grant money and getting environmental issues ironed out between the city and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.