MOUNT OLIVET — Deputy Secretary Regina Stivers of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet announced the award of $696,000 toward planned park improvements at Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park Thursday afternoon.
In a gathering of elected officials, both local and state, as well as other community leaders at the park lodge, Stivers spoke about the importance of state parks to the state and to local communities.
“Blue Licks Battlefield is a perfect example of the experiences we offer here at our state parks,” she said. “There’s so much history here, and there’s so much to learn at the Pioneer Museum.The people here know that Blue Licks is more than that, it is a prime example of how our state parks can unite us and bring a sense of pride to the community.”
Through the “Restoring the Finest” initiative, Stivers said $50 million has been appropriated from the Kentucky General Assembly this year to be used to address various safety, communications and infrastructure needs.
“We started out with the state parks campaign, calling it Refreshing the Finest. Mostly it was aesthetic and safety repairs, we’re still doing some of that but now we’re calling it Restoring the Finest because they (the parks) truly are the finest, and we’re putting a lot more money into infrastructure needs.”
According to Stivers, with the money awarded to Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park, exterior upgrades will be made to the park’s cottages, electrical repairs to the lodge, even water and sewage issues will be addressed.
Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park Manager Greta Gay said she is elated to hear the park receive $696,000 to make improvements to the park.
“We are excited to be part of the Restoring The Finest $696,000 in planned park improvements,” she said. “Upgrades planned for Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park include water and sewer upgrades, deck repair at cottages, removal of trees at shelter, replace cottage FM air relief and replace ADA door controller and door operator.”
According to a release from the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, with this announcement Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park will have received an estimated total of $1 million since 2016 as a result of additional state parks funding during the Bevin Administration.
“State parks are accessible to everyone; young, old, rich or poor,” Stivers said, “that’s why we need to continue to keep them up.”
