Priority Action Item - Outdoor Sports Facilities
Outdoor Sports Facilities - Former Bluegrass Downs Site and Stuart Nelson Park
Objective
Partner with McCracken County and the McCracken Sports Tourism Commission in the design and construction of the outdoor recreational facilities.
Key Team Members
City Manager's Office
City Engineer Rick Murphy
Parks & Recreation Department Director Amie Clark
Expectations
- Formalize equal partnerships (financial and participation)
- Consider using portion of existing bond proceeds
- Finalize an interlocal agreement
- Design and construction
- Improvement of Stuart Nelson access roads and Bob Noble Park recreational fields
- Honor historical heritage of Stuart Nelson Park
Quarterly Update - April 2021
Collaboration City representative is attending bi-weekly McCracken County Sports Tourism Commission meetings. On March 15, City and County representatives heard the Outdoor Sports Facility master plan presentation from local company, Peck Flannery Gream and Warren (PFGW), to learn about the proposed amenities and view the conceptual video (see below).
City Sports Facilities City is working with I.T. Department and PFGW for project design and planning for the changes to the Disc Golf Course at Stuart Nelson Park since the Outdoor Sports Facility is proposed to use much of that park.
McCracken County Sports Tourism Commission Purchased the domain, greenwaysports.com, and is working on the branding for the facility. Sports Commission also is discussing how the facility would be operated and maintained.
Conceptual Video and Master Plan
In 2020, McCracken County received a donation from Harrahs Inc. and VICCI Inc. of more than 60 acres of land that formerly housed the Bluegrass Downs horse track complex. The land will be developed into an athletic complex consisting of softball, baseball and soccer.
The video that launched in March 2021 shows how the former Bluegrass Downs and Stuart Nelson Park could be turned into an incredible outdoor sports facility. The project includes 6 full-size soccer fields, 2 softball fields, and 6 baseball diamonds in addition to other amenities. The City and County are working with the McCracken County Sports Tourism Commission on this project that would make Paducah-McCracken County a sports destination.
Commission Priorities
Read all 12 Commission Priorities including each action item's objective, key team members, and expectations by visiting Commission Priorities.