A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

State puts more ‘Restoring the Finest’ improvement funds into repairs and safety for the park system


By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today

State tourism officials have announced funding for two Kentucky State Resort Parks as part of the “Restoring the Finest” initiative to make repairs and safety improvements within the park system.



The $6 million in funding for Lake Barkley State Resort Park in Cadiz will include upgrades for the wastewater treatment system, roof replacement and repairs and improvements for the fire alarm and sprinkler system. With this announcement, Lake Barkley will have received more than $7.7 million in improvements since 2016.

Lake Barkley State Resort Park




Lake Barkley State Resort Park has a lodge, cottages, campground, restaurant, hiking trails, indoor pool, golf course, marina and offers recreational activities throughout the year.



“Projects like these at Lake Barkley are important to our state park system and help keep our parks safe and attractive to guests,” said Tourism, Arts and Heritage Secretary Don Parkinson.



Meanwhile, around $560,000 in improvements are planned at Kenlake State Resort Park in Aurora, including a new roof for the lodge at the park. Since 2016, Kenlake has received about $1.2 million for improvements.



Kenlake State Resort Park has a lodge, cottages, campground, restaurant, hiking trails, marina and offers recreational activities throughout the year.



“After decades of neglect and mismanagement under previous administrations, we are committed to investing in and improving our state parks for the next generation,” said Gov. Matt Bevin. “Our ‘Refreshing the Finest’ initiative was an important first step to address deferred maintenance, and now the ‘Restoring the Finest’ initiative will allow us to build on our momentum and advance further improvements within our state park system.”



Kentucky State Parks received $18 million and $20 million in added funding as part of the “Refreshing the Finest” program in 2016-2018.

In addition, lawmakers approved a $50 million bond issue for the “Restoring the Finest” campaign in state parks during the 2019 General Assembly.



“After many years the state parks were facing $240 million in deferred maintenance costs,” Parks Commissioner Donnie Holland said. “These additional funds allow us to make much-needed repairs and improvements for the parks and continue contributing to the tourism economy across Kentucky.”



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