Lake Barkley State Resort Park is getting about $6 million dollars for renovations as a part of a Kentucky initiative to upgrade the state’s parks.
“Restoring The Finest” is a program aiming to upgrade the park system in Kentucky. Lawmakers approved a $50 million dollar bond issue for the campaign during the 2019 General Assembly. Most of Kentucky’s 17 resorts and 45 parks were built about 50 years ago.
Donnie Holland is commissioner of state parks for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He said the cost of restoring the state’s parks is about $240 million dollars.
Holland said when attending a national conference for state park commissioners, he found that deterioration of state resorts and parks was a common problem throughout the United States.
“Everybody had built parks and built parks, back 40 years ago, and did not maintain them correctly,” Holland said.
According to the commissioner, the roof at Barkley Lodge is leaking around the skylights, causing mold. Holland said this is because the lodge was opened in early ’70s and the roof is the original.
“So, certainly whoever put that roof on got some good service out of it, but it’s way past time for replacements to Barkley Lodge,” he said.
Holland said he appreciates the help that the legislators have given. He said camping is a rapidly growing industry in the country.
Holland said the park systems economic impact is about a billion dollars a year. Holland said Cadiz benefits from the hundreds of visitors to the state park every year, and making upgrades to the Barkley Lodge will keep campers coming back to the area.
Barkley Lodge will receive upgrades for wastewater treatment system, wifi enhancement, and roof replacement.
Hannah Bullard is a Murray State Journalism major. She found her place in radio during her second year in Murray. She is from Herndon, Kentucky, a small farming community on the Kentucky/Tennessee stateline. She first discovered her love for NPR when she stumbled upon "This American Life" while traveling. She believes everyone has a story worth telling. Her favorite pieces to produce are centered around people and their community. She hopes to continue a career in journalism through broadcast or non-profit work.
