CARROLLTON, Ky. (LEX 18) – Gov. Matt Bevin joined Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet, and Kentucky State Parks officials at General Butler State Park on Friday to announce the kickoff of phase II of the Commonwealth’s “Refreshing the Finest” initiative.
Launched in 2016, “Refreshing the Finest” has already invested $18 million in maintenance and operational improvements to the Kentucky State Parks system. The 2018 General Assembly allocated an additional $20 million to replace park lodge roofs, upgrade campgrounds, repair wastewater treatment plants, fix swimming pools and make other much-needed facility repairs.
As a result of the initial $18 million “Refreshing the Finest” investment, some 133 projects are nearly complete. The improvements have helped to significantly increase business among Kentucky’s state parks, yielding a $7.6 million revenue boost in 2018 compared to 2016.
The projects planned through phase II of “Refreshing the Finest” include new roofs at Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park, Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Rough River Dam State Resort Park, and Jenny Wiley State Resort Park. Repairs of walls, windows and roofing are also planned at John James Audubon State Park.
Utility improvements are planned at Pine Mountain State Resort Park, Lake Barkley State Resort Park, and Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park. Campgrounds improvements are planned at Barren River Lake, General Burnside State Park, Carter Caves State Resort Park, Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park, and Lake Cumberland.
All 17 resort parks will receive hospitality upgrades that include items such as new furniture, flooring, paint, fixtures and paint.
