Department of Parks
Agreement Reached For Operation Of Ben Hawes State Park In Owensboro

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Department of Parks and the city of Owensboro have reached a temporary agreement for the city to operate Ben Hawes State Park, including its golf courses, through June 30, 2010, Tourism, Arts and Heritage Secretary Marcheta Sparrow announced today.

Under the agreement, the city will provide staffing for the golf course and the state will receive the revenue and pay for operating costs.

“With this agreement Ben Hawes State Park will remain open to the public,” Sparrow said. “This is a busy time of year – especially for golf – and we’re glad to be able to keep the park open for use by Owensboro area residents and other guests.”

The Commonwealth and the city of Owensboro had reached an agreement in which the city was to purchase the State Office building in downtown Owensboro as part of its downtown redevelopment and the Commonwealth would transfer Ben Hawes State Park to the city at the end of March.   However, because of ongoing negotiations on the downtown property, the Department of Parks and city worked out a temporary operating agreement for the park.

Ben Hawes State Park has an 18-hole golf course, a 9-hole course, hiking and mountain bike trails, picnic shelter, playground, softball field and basketball court.

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The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 52 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov