Department of Parks
Kentucky State Park Foundation Established To Support Parks

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A new, private foundation has been established to help support the Kentucky State Park system of 53 parks and historic sites.

The purpose of the Kentucky State Park Foundation will be to protect and advocate for the natural, historical and cultural resources of the park system through fundraising and other activities, Parks Commissioner J.T. Miller said. Miller also announced that 12 people have agreed to serve on the foundation’s first board of directors.

“Our goal is to establish a foundation that will help improve our park system and let more people know about these Kentucky treasures,” Miller said.  “We have an outstanding group of people who have agreed to help us get started.”

The foundation and its board will be independent from state government. The foundation will be allowed to accept grants and private gifts to help support its mission. Besides supporting the overall parks system, the foundation will also help create other private groups and help others that already exist to support individual parks and historic sites.

Miller said the foundation could also help develop education programs for families and children at parks, purchase historic artifacts, purchase land adjacent to parks, create and maintain park trails, and promote volunteer programs at parks.

Those who have agreed to serve on the board include:

-         Isabel Yates, a Lexington civic leader and former vice mayor.

-         Joe Bowen, a former state representative and owner of Bowen Tire Company in Owensboro.

-         Judy King Cowgill, a Lexington civic leader who is on the board of directors for Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate and who published a book on the state parks in 1991.

-         Alan Hoeweler, a Cincinnati businessman and past president of the Association for the Protection of Civil War Sites. He owns property adjacent to the Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site.

-         Lindy B. Street, a Springfield native and Louisville civic leader who previously served as  senior vice president of marketing and public affairs for Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation.

-         Rick Jordan of Elsmere, president of LSI Images and chairman of the Gateway Community and Technical College.

-         Ben Cundiff, a Cadiz farmer, lawyer and former banker.

-         Jerry Haynes, an Eastern Kentucky native who is president and CEO of Appalachian Regional Healthcare.

-         Fred Jackson, president and CEO of Kings Daughters Medical Center in Ashland.

-         Curt Sullivan of Bowling Green, founder and CEO of Omni Custom Meats, Inc.

-         Charles W. Miller of Prestonsburg, former vice president of Atlas Powder Company.

-         Mary Anne Squires of Versailles, who with her husband, James D. Squires, own Two Bucks Farm in Woodford County. Mrs. Squires owns and operates Kentucky Horse Tours.

--30--

The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 53 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. Each year, Kentucky parks draw 7 million visitors and contribute $317 million to the economy. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov