City of Earlington Selected to Receive $122,400 Grant Award for Motorized Trail Improvements
Grant Would Fund Improvements to the Earlington Loch Mary Lake ATV Park
FRANKFORT, Ky. (October 28, 2019) – The Department for Local Government (DLG) today announced that the City of Earlington, in Hopkins County, has been selected to receive a $122,400 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) allocation for improvements to the Loch Mary Lake ATV Park. Upon federal approval, the allocation will provide for widening of the trail head, adding riprap along mud holes, constructing a comfort station, adding signage, and the installation of a new security system.
“We are excited today to announce $122,400 in RTP grant funding for the City of Earlington,” said Gov. Matt Bevin. “Our Department for Local Government works closely with local officials to address priority projects that will most positively impact their communities. This significant investment will enable vital recreational improvements to be made.”
In July of 2010, the City of Earlington opened a new ATV park, consisting of 647 acres, including Loch Mary Lake, with approximately 500 acres available for riding. The park currently consists of roughly 15 miles of trails.
The project would improve the park by widening existing trails and installing gravel on some areas of the trails to allow for youth and smaller vehicles to bypass large mud holes. Additionally, the city would place riprap along the openings and crossings that lead to power line and gas easement, which will prevent riders from driving over easements, and will lessen the water that could run onto trails after heavy rain.
A comfort station near the bathhouse would be constructed for two picnic tables and trash cans, with one of the picnic tables being compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Additionally, signage with maps and an overhead view of the park would be installed on the wall of the bathhouse so that riders have a better understanding of the park’s trails, as well as its boundaries. A small security system would also be installed. In order to maintain existing trails, as well as build new trails, a compact track loader with 60-inch cutting head and an excavator with 47-inch rotary head would be purchased by the city.
“ATV trails are important not just for tourism and economic development, but for the recreational opportunities they provide for local residents,” said DLG Commissioner Sandra Dunahoo. “I’m very pleased that we have selected the Earlington Loch Mary Lake ATV Park for this funding.”
"This funding provides us the ability to improve facilities that will encourage individuals to experience outdoor recreational opportunities in our beautiful community," said Senator C.B. Embry. "I pleased to see these funds being invested here in Hopkins County."
"I'm grateful to see our local officials, including Mayor Phillip Hunt and his staff, for working proactively with the Department of Local Government and the Pennyrile Area Development District to secure financing for important projects like trail improvements," Rep. Melinda Gibbons Prunty said. "This is big news for both Earlington and Hopkins County, as improved trails will provide more opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors for both residents and visitors."
"The General Assembly has worked closely with Governor Bevin's administration to increase tourism and recreational opportunities, and I'm glad to see this extension of that effort," Rep. Jim Gooch said. "Our local officials in Hopkins County deserve credit for working tirelessly to pursue worthwhile projects like this."
"This project is great news for Earlington, and all of Hopkins County," Rep. Myron Dossett said. "This investment will improve outdoor recreation opportunities, a worthy goal that we can all get behind."
Recreational Trails Program
The Recreational Trails Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The funds are administered by the Department for Local Government, an arm of the Office of the Governor dedicated to supporting local officials and communities, to selected grant applicants for the creation and development of recreational trails. For more information, go to http://kydlgweb.ky.gov/.
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