Twenty-eight Kentucky cities received $4.2 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Projects announced on Friday will benefit a wide variety of outdoor, health-related improvements, including the renovation or replacement of playground equipment, construction of walking and biking paths, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) updates to recreational facilities.

“The City of Benton is excited to receive the Land and Water grant,” responded Benton Mayor and KLC Executive Board Member Rita Dotson. “We will use these funds to create a walking trail through our park that all of the community can use.” The Department for Local Government (DLG) awarded Benton $15,500.

The City of Beaver Dam received $88,084 to improve parking at Beaver Dam City Park. Beaver Dam Mayor and KLC Executive Board Member Paul Sandefur commented, “We’ve done a lot with our playground, lake, and farmers’ market area already. This funding will take things to another level for us. This park is a really popular place for our community. From high school graduations to local shows and big-name national entertainers, it is important on so many levels. This project will make it easier for everyone to enjoy what Beaver Dam has to offer.”

The City of Fulton will receive $200,000 to update areas of Pontotoc Park. “Our park is the heart of downtown,” said Fulton Mayor and KLC Executive Board Member David Prater Jr. “People get married there, they celebrate birthdays, and many of our festivals center around the park. We’re grateful for the award and look forward to the benefits it will provide our community.”

Other cities receiving LWCF monies include:

• Alexandria ‒ $31,000 for picnic shelters
• Campton ‒ $26,372 for an ADA-accessible playground
• Clay City ‒ $32,367 to construct tennis/pickleball courts
• Crofton ‒ $50,000 to improve lighting at Gordon Park ballfields
• Dawson Springs ‒ $100,000 for new ADA-accessible playground equipment and an updated T-ball field
• Edgewood ‒ $75,000 to refurbish a Freedom Park walking trail
• Elkton ‒ $123,000 to improve ballfield lighting and playground equipment at Elkton-Todd County Park
• Henderson ‒ $200,000 to construct and improve baseball fields and pedestrian walkways at the Airline Road Sports Complex
• Hodgenville ‒ $125,000 to update and construct ballfields
• Jackson ‒ $25,000 to improve ball courts and public areas at Douthitt Park
• Lexington ‒ $25,000 to improve the Raven Run Nature Sanctuary
• Louisville ‒ $200,000 to improve Jefferson Memorial Forest
• Middletown ‒ $49,146 to improve Wetherby Park
• Millersburg ‒ $124,953 to enhance the Millersburg City Park
• Mount Vernon ‒ $25,000 to purchase new park benches and shade structures and construct a new walking trail and bridge crossing at Lake Linville Park
• Newport ‒ $200,000 to construct play areas at Festival Park
• Nicholasville ‒ $125,000 to construct a walking trail in Riney B. Park
• Prospect ‒ $110,000 to expand Little Hunting Creek Park
• Richmond ‒ $90,000 to construct an outdoor fitness court at Lake Reba Recreational Complex
• Russell ‒ $33,564 to construct walkways through Russell City Park
• Sadieville ‒ $47,217 to construct a splash pad at Veterans Park
• Scottsville ‒ $157,350 to replace play structures and build an ADA-accessible sidewalk at Scottsville Roadside Park
• Taylor Mill ‒ $45,625 to construct an amphitheater and stage at Pride Park
• Warsaw ‒ $54,000 to construct a shelter, restrooms, concession stand, picnic shelter, and ADA-accessible playground
• Williamsburg ‒ $125,000 to purchase new splash pad accessories and equipment for Kentucky Splash Waterpark and Campground
• Worthington ‒ $13,463 to resurface the basketball and tennis court at Worthington City Park

To receive the federal funds, which are administered at the state level by the Department for Local Government (DLG), selected applicants must undergo federal review and receive approval from the National Park Service.