County Receives $17K In Federal Flood Control Grant, Will Go To Parks & Rec To Repair Walking Trail

Portions of the entrance of the walking trail at Chalybeate Park are under water while other areas are washed completely out.

Darren Doyle, story and photo
Judge Executive Wil Cannon announced that the Edmonson County Fiscal Court had received a federal grant for the use of flood control in the amount of $17,695.45. 

Judge Cannon said that Edmonson County received the grant because of the county's location in proximity to Nolin Lake and the Nolin Dam. The can be used for anything in the county that suffers from flooding or to prevent further flooding.

The walking trail at Chalybeate Park has suffered from erosion, poor drainage, and has developed ditches and ruts where they're not supposed to be. According to Parks and Rec Program Director Greg Hudson, the trail is not safe to use. The first reading of a county budget amendment to allow Parks and Rec to use the funds to repair the trail was approved at today's fiscal court meeting.

"We're very fortunate to have the opportunity to use this federal grant money," said Hudson. "Although it was only the first reading of the budget amendment today, we feel confident that the court's final vote will be for us to use the funds to repair the trail. Then we'll have a place where we can host 5K runs or other events."

Hudson said the funds will allow the area to be paved from the beginning of the trail throughout the length of the basketball courts then the remainder will be smoothed out and finished with gravel.