City seeks grant funds for new Barren River Whitewater Park project
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Tuesday evening, the Board of Commissioners approved the submission of a grant application to create a whitewater recreational park in Barren River in Downtown Bowling Green. The grant is requesting $3.64 million in funding from the National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation Fund’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program.
Called the Barren River Whitewater Park Project, this park provides new recreational opportunities by adding five instream drop structures to replace the existing dam. The drops will create fun, safe sporting options for whitewater enthusiasts, while also giving all-new river access for anglers, instream splashers, and users with disabilities.
“Activating our river as a safe, outdoor recreation space for residents and visitors reminds us that Bowling Green is always on the move and improving our quality of life,” said Mayor Todd Alcott.
The nearest whitewater park is a 4.5-hour drive away from Bowling Green. This project will fill a void for the 9.3 million people in the surrounding region.
“This whitewater park project elevates our Riverfront Park plans and would build the whole park into a true destination,” said Brent Childers, Director of Neighborhood & Community Services. “Our Riverfront Park will be an excellent local amenity with lots of new outdoor recreation features, but securing this whitewater park would take it to the next level for adventure travelers and enthusiasts.”
The total estimated cost of the Barren River Whitewater Park Project is $7.28 million. The City of Bowling Green is committed to the 50 percent matching funds grant requirement of $3.64 million. The City partnered with the Recreation Engineering and Planning in Boulder, Co., and Riverfront Park’s design firm, MKSK, on this project plan.
The City unveiled the Riverfront Park Master Plan in January, after spending much of 2023 researching and getting in-person and online feedback from nearly 3,000 community participants across several events. Whitewater sports was one of the top five responses from the community for the future of Riverfront Park.
“Of feedback we received from engagement with residents, access and reconnecting with the Barren River ranked at the top of the list. In addition to fishing piers and riverside paths and trails, the incorporation of the whitewater park in the overall master plan offers a variety of opportunities for people to reconnect with the Downtown river corridor,” said Andy Knight of MKSK.
The Barren River Whitewater Park project’s amenities will enhance the Downtown Bowling Green scene. Public and private investments and partnerships continue being catalysts for economic and community development, talent attraction, workforce retention, and tourism. Riverfront Park and its projects will bring generational change to Bowling Green.
The transformation of Bowling Green’s riverfront begins the next chapter in Bowling Green’s history.
