The road toward completion of the Eastern Kentucky Veterans Memorial Park in Cumberland became just a little shorter after members of the Harlan Fiscal Court approved a resolution for the submission of a trail grant for the park.
A stipulation was attached to the approval, saying the county will not be responsible for any matching funds required of that grant.
“I’m the magistrate in that district and I fully support what you are trying to get accomplished up there,” said Magistrate David Kennedy. “I compliment everyone for the hard work they have done. As far as the match is concerned, the county fully supports this project and is willing to sign a resolution, but there is no money available for matching funds.”
Park committee member Cleon Cornett told Kennedy they have applied for a grant for the matching funds from the R.E. Bob Frazier Foundation and “they feel strongly” it will be looked at “in a favorable manner.”
He said they do have a verbal commitment “from a fellow in the county” who has heavy equipment to provide the kind of work related to the construction of the trail, as well as the park.
“We know the county is short of funds,” said Cornett.
A representative of CMW Inc. of Lexington told the court the trail must be 8 feet wide and at least 1 mile in length and would be handicapped accessible and available for walking and bicycling. He added the grant is for $100,000, with a match of $100,000 for a total of $200,000.
When finished the trail will span approximately 2 and 1-half miles equipped with historical markers along the way. The trail will tie into East Main Street in Cumberland, giving the trail an urban connection.
“Maybe sometime in the future the county will be in a position to help some,” said Kennedy. “This park will be right on U.S. 119 and the county owns all that property around where the park is being constructed. The completion of this project will all go into the development of tourism for our county.”
Cornett told court members on behalf of all veterans and their families this may be the only project the court will ever work with where they will receive “no criticism.”
Reach Nola Sizemore at 606-573-4510, ext. 115, nsizemore@civitasmedia.com
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