The Paducah City Commission has introduced an ordinance to accept a $400,000 grant from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky for the development of a new park near Fountain Avenue.
The park is an effort of the Purchase Area Connections for Health, a partnership between the city, United Way of Paducah-McCracken County, Baptist Health Paducah, Lourdes Hospital, and the Purchase District Health Department.
Paducah Parks director Mark Thompson said the city will receive the grant over three years.
“But, the one primary thing that this is a park dedicated to a healthy population in Paducah. Right now we have six hundred and ten thousand dollars. Only eighty-five of that is a city commitment,” Thompson said.
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky grant requires a cash match of $200,000. The match comes from a 2014 Land & Water Conservation Fund grant in the amount of $75,000, its cash match in the amount of $75,000, and donations of $25,000 each from the two hospitals. The Purchase Area Connections for Health will raise additional funds to complete the park.
The park will be located on city property between 13th and 14th Streets and Madison Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. The property previously held a public housing complex. Once finished, the park will include a walking trail, playground, expanded community garden, spray pad, outdoor fitness equipment and a performance area. Officials say it will benefit the Frenchtown, Lower Town and Fountain Avenue neighborhoods.
