Inmate Labor Helps Park System

Kanawha County parks officials have made up for a shortage of summer workers at Coonskin Park by using prison inmates. Parks Director Jeff Hutchinson told members of the Commission that 11 inmates from the Charleston Correctional Center began work at the park this week cutting grass, trimming weeds, painting and doing maintenance. The inmates are non-violent offenders in the process of being released on parole. Inmates supply the work for free, in exchange for lunch.