BG storm shelters on the horizon

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – With the two-year anniversary of the 2021 tornadoes and the recent weather over the weekend, Bowling Green has received grant money from FEMA to design and eventually build five storm shelters inside of the city limits.

The shelters will all be located in three different parks, which will lend to the walk up, and especially drive up, says director of Neighborhood and Community Services Brent Childers. There will be one shelter located in Pedigo Park and two in both Lovers Lane Soccer Complex and Preston Miller Park. This will give shelter access to thousands of people in the city.

“We’re hopeful to see construction within the next 18 to 24 months. And these grant programs just sometimes things can get delayed. But what they are is it’s a resource for the community. And so we’re targeting our park systems, specifically our park systems with neighborhoods around them so that we have, you know, a type of shelter that people can walk to during periods of inclement weather,” Childers said.

This is part of a wide swath of similar developments by cities and counties in the southern Kentucky region in recent years. The 2021 tornadoes became something of a catalyst.

The buildings will be built to regional standard and will feature reinforced concrete and will give roughly enough space for 150 people to shelter in place. Once constructed, they will be under the authority of Bowling Green Parks and Recreation.