Many of the old homes are vacant and dilapidated. Some are too dangerous to go inside. McKenzie said it's not acceptable to let East Wheeling stay that way.

"We really felt that at this time the best use of the property would be allow it to be returned back to the neighborhood, the people that live here," he said.

Once the city buys up about six more properties on the block between 15th, 16-th, Wood and McCullough streets, work can begin on the complex.

"What you will have is a track around so people that live here will be able to come out and walk around the track. You'll have a track where kids can actually run around. It's a large enough footprint where you'll have soccer, you'll have football, you'll have softball," McKenzie said.

The old Clay School nearby could eventually be worked into the plan future. And McKenzie said the bigger picture also includes housing.

"From that corner all the way down is where the housing would be. And then of course all the way up take those structures as well. So it's a real commitment," he said.

McKenzie said the city is willing to take on that major commitment to improve East Wheeling along with the entire downtown area.