Pat & Jim Brockenborough Rotary Health Park

Park Location, Phases, and Vision

Location:  The Pat & Jim Brockenborough Rotary Health Park is located at 421 North 13th Street in the historic Fountain Avenue Neighborhood and adjacent to the neighborhood known as Frenchtown. The park is bordered by Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, 13th Street, Madison Street, and 14th Street.  

Amenities:  Splash pad (seasonal, open 10am-8pm daily), restrooms, playground, community garden, agility course and fitness area, 1/3 mile walking path, picnic area, water fountains, amd lighting.  Note: There are sensors in the concrete at the splash pad that turn on the water when touched.  The sprayground closes for the 2019 season at the end of the day on September 29.

Vision:  The plan for the park (see image) is an outdoor health park that promotes healthy living.  It will provide a venue for local schools, the Parks and Recreation Department, and other agencies to educate the public, especially youth, about proper diet and exercise.  For this park, the City of Paducah has partnered with United Way of Paducah-McCracken County, Lourdes Hospital, Baptist Health Paducah, Rotary Club of Paducah, Purchase District Health Department, Healthy Paducah Chapter of the Purchase Connections for Health Coalition, and Paducah Independent Schools.  Mrs. Pat Brockenborough has donated $500,000 for the park's second phase 

Phase I (completed):  A ribbon cutting ceremony for the Health Park's first phase was held August 1, 2017.  In November 2016, the Paducah Board of Commissioners approved a 180-calendar-day contract with Wilkins Construction Company for the approximately $620,000 Phase I project which included the rubberized safety surface at the Rotary Playground, the installation of a 1/3 mile walking trail, a fitness area, the grading and resurfacing of the grassy lawn, lighting, landscaping, water fountains, and an expansion of the Community Garden. The playground was installed and opened in June 2016 but had to be closed during the construction project for the safety surface installation.  Grants through the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, Land & Water Conservation Fund, and Recreation Trail  in addition to donations provided more than $668,000 for this project.  Prior to the Phase I Project, this park consisted only of a large open area, a smaller version of the Community Garden, and the Paducah Rotary Playground which was constructed in June 2016.

Phase II (partially completed):  At the August 1, 2017, ribbon cutting celebration for the completion of Phase I, it was announced that Mrs. Pat Brockenborough is donating $500,000 toward the construction of a restroom facility and splash pad for Phase II.  On that date, it was also announced that the Health Park would be renamed the Pat & Jim Brockenborough Rotary Health Park.  On August 15, 2019, the splash pad and the restroom facility opened to the public.  Additional features for Phase II that have not been completed yet include a performance plaza and the expansion of the outdoor fitness area.  The end of the park facing Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive could include housing or a mixed-use development.

Video Updates

Partnerships and Grants

Healthy Living is the theme for the Fountain Avenue Health Park.  The City of Paducah is working with a group of partners including the Healthy Paducah Chapter of the Purchase Area Connections for Health Coalition, United Way of Paducah-McCracken County, Baptist Health Paducah, Lourdes Hospital, Rotary Club of Paducah, Paducah Independent Schools, and the Purchase District Health Department.  

At the April 14, 2015 City Commission meeting, Parks and Recreation Director Mark Thompson along with United Way of Paducah-McCracken County Executive Director Monique Zuber and Mike Muscarella, director of rehabilitation services at Baptist Health Paducah, explained the partnership that led to the creation of this new park in the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood.

More than $668,000 was available to start the first phase of the park.  The City received the Investing in Kentucky’s Future grant for the park in the amount of $400,000 from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. The grant required a cash match of $200,000 which was satisfied through a 2014 Land & Water Conservation Fund grant in the amount of $75,000, its cash match in the amount of $75,000, and donations of $25,000 each from the two hospitals.  The City also has received a Recreation Trails Grant in the amount of $68,095.  

On August 1, 2017, at the ribbon cutting celebration for the completion of Phase I, it was announced the the City would be receiving a $500,000 from Mrs. Pat Brockenborough to start the second phase of the project which will include a splash pad and a restroom facility.

The program called CATCH, Coordinated Approach to Child Health, will be implemented in the Paducah School System to educate children on the benefits of healthy decisions and healthy lifestyles.

Playground Built by Rotary Club of Paducah and Volunteers

The community built playground, sponsored and supported by the Rotary Club of Paducah in addition to Rotary District 6710 Grants and numerous donors, was constructed June 20-26, 2016 primarily by volunteers with a ribbon cutting held June 26.  This $200,000 playground is 4000 square feet in size and features a rope wall, rock wall, castles, swings, slides, and monkey bars.