FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky State Parks are celebrating their 85th anniversary this year and are encouraging guests to help celebrate by getting outdoors and visit the parks. For those of you who like to write about your outdoor experiences, the parks system has a poetry contest for you.
The Nov. 2 deadline is just a few weeks away.
The Kentucky State Parks 85th Anniversary Poetry Contest has three age categories – 11 and under, 12-18 and 19 and over. Any style may be used but poets are asked to use a theme that is some way related to the natural, cultural or historical aspects of state parks.
The deadline for submitting an entry is Nov. 2, 2009, with the winners to be announced by the end of the year. The top prize in each age category is a $50 Kentucky State Park gift card. There will also be prizes for 2nd and 3rd place in each age category. All winners and honorable mentions ages 18 and under will receive a free admission coupon to a state park fort, museum or historic site of their choice.
Winning poems will be posted on the state park web site.
Poems have to be in writing (two copies please, according to submission rules) and mailed to the Kentucky Department of Parks, c/o Poetry Contest, 500 Mero Street – 10th floor, Frankfort, Ky. 40601.
There is a limit on length and all works must include a title and be the original work of the entrant. A complete list of rules as well as the official entry form, which must accompany all entries, is available at www.parks.ky.gov.
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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