According to David Whitehouse, Director of Boone County Parks, most residents can name a few parks in the county, but have no idea of the variety of green space available. “We are blessed to have nineteen parks in Boone County,” said David, “they are the hidden jewels in our community. All residents can enjoy walking, hiking and biking, and just spending time outdoors.”
During a recent talk for the Florence Rotary Club, David shared that over 40,000 people attend events sponsored by the Parks Department. These include the popular Jack-O-Lantern walk at Central Park, attended by over 5,000 people one year. Boone Woods Park is the home of the annual Arts & Crafts show that drew 3,000 this year.
The Parks Department has formed partnerships with other community assets to increase programming opportunities for residents. The Parks, along with the Boone County Public Library, sponsored a summer concert series that included performances by the Cincinnati Pops, a Johnny Cash tribute, and other performers that drew over 3,000 people.
In a partnership with the Boone Conservancy, the Parks Department helped reclaim an old gravel pit that had been abandoned. “With the help of community volunteers,” said David, “the property underwent an amazing transformation, from gravel and sand, to greenery and fishing lake.” The park, located in Belleview, is now open to the public.
Many people think of the parks for recreational use, especially youth sports activities. David mentioned that youth baseball had 4,000 participants, soccer had 2,800, and PeeWee football drew 2,500. But most residents don’t realize that Boone County Parks also has one of the top Disc Golf courses in the country, at England Idlewild Park. People have traveled from 38 states to play the course here.
Mountain biking is another popular activity, with 250 riders participating in a recent race. Lacrosse, a recent addition to the local school sports scene, now has twenty four teams practicing at the community parks. And of course, fishing, tennis, and horseshoes are offered, along with summer camps, archery, picnic shelters, and much more. And now astronomy has been added, thanks to the recent donation of a telescope.
“Sometimes,” concluded David, “we take our abundance of green space for granted. It is only through the efforts of elected officials, staff, and community volunteers that these opportunities exist. Through the Boone County Parks, we can provide active and safe programs for children, cultural activities, and healthy outdoor options for all residents.”
Learn more about the Boone County Parks at www.boonecountyky.org/parks, or by calling 859-334-2117.
For information about weekly meetings, guest speakers and community service opportunities of the Florence Rotary Club, contact Brad Shipe, President, at bradshipe@hotmail.com or (859) 282-7040. Visit the group’s web site at www.florencerotary.org . Florence Rotary meets weekly on Mondays at noon at the Airport Hilton Hotel in Florence.
