EAST PALESTINE – Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw returned to East Palestine on Wednesday with one main objective – to listen.

“As every investment we’ve made in this community, we are looking for direction and feedback from the community and where to apply it,” Shaw said. “We are going to supply the resources and we are going to allow the community leaders to determine where that goes. That means helping businesses, helping the families, helping the community, helping the schools and potentially helping the park.”

Shaw and other representatives of Norfolk Southern received a tour of the East Palestine City Park from village employees Brennan Harvey and Steve Baird as well as Marty Grim, president of the East Palestine Community Foundation. Shaw toured the pool, recreational room and playground areas as he heard what the railroad could do to make improvements to the park and make sure the derailment of the Norfolk Southern train on Feb. 3 and controlled burn following it do not impede the village’s ability to prepare the park for the busy days of spring and summer.

“Today we were out with some community leaders, walking around the park. One of the things I keep hearing as I visit East Palestine is how important this park is to the citizens of this community and, frankly, to the folks who live outside of this area,” Shaw said. “It really is a draw for people of East Palestine and the surrounding communities to hear stories about the pool and the Fourth of July and the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. It sounds like it’s a draw four seasons out of the year and my goal is to find out, to work with my team and with the community leaders, to see what we can do to help enhance this park and make it even more of a draw.”

Prior to Wednesday’s visit, Norfolk Southern had paid to wash and disinfect the tennis and basketball courts as well as the playground equipment. The railroad also paid to replace the mulch at the playground after concerns about the safety of the old mulch were expressed. Those things were considered part of the cleanup efforts. Shaw is looking ahead to bigger and better things for the park and the village as East Palestine struggles to get back on its feet in the wake of the rail disaster.

“I’ve been here a number of times since the derailment and everytime our primary goal is to sit down with residents of this community and see what we can do to help support the recovery of East Palestine and help East Palestine thrive,” Shaw said.” I am listening and getting feedback from the folks about what’s important, what works for them and what they need.”

As Shaw continues to keep the dialogue open with residents, the same topics continue to dominate the conversations. Worries about water quality, loss of property value and adverse health down the road are the most talked about. Shaw said Norfolk Southern is working to address all three. Frustrated residents say it is taking Norfolk Southern too long to do so, but Shaw said he wants to make sure the funds are set up through the right avenues to ensure the people who need help will continue to get it.

“What I’ve heard from the citizens is that they are really concerned about water, access to health care, and property evaluation,” Shaw said. “What we have announced is that we are working on a plan with the Ohio Attorney General with a long-term fund for water testing, property evaluations and for long-term health testing. We are working with the state and we are working with the AG and we’ve talked with Gov. [Mike] DeWine about it as well. We are setting up a fund that can take those concerns off the table.”

Shaw said it is part of Norfolk Southern’s promise to make things right.

“Norfolk Southern is going to do what’s right, and every day we are going to take the next right step. I am going to see this thing through, no matter what happens and no matter what it takes and you are starting to see a lot of progress with environmental cleanup and you are starting to see a lot of progress with the commitment to the community,” he said. “We have already committed close to $27 million to the community and that’s just a start. We are going to be here. A year from now, five years and 10 years from now. We are going to have a response that makes East Palestine and Norfolk Southern proud.”

Shaw said that Norfolk Southern intends to have a permanent presence in East Palestine. That means putting down roots in the village and buying real estate and maintaining a full-time office in East Palestine.

“We are looking at purchasing a facility in East Palestine,” he said. “We are going to stay here for the long term. We are looking at something in town hopefully close to Main Street to continue our presence here. We want a long-term option here.”

Shaw was able to make two trips to the derailment site on Wednesday and reported that progress is being made as cleanup and environmental remediation efforts continue. He estimated that cleanup will take at least two more months.

“What we’re doing is acting with a real sense of urgency and we’ve made a lot of progress,” Shaw said. “We’ve already moved 12,000 tons of dirt off site. We’ve already moved 9 million gallons of water off site.”