Paducah Parks Offices and Senior Center

Parks and Recreation Classrooms and Maintenance

The Paducah Parks building located at 1400 H.C. Mathis Drive houses Parks and Recreation Department classrooms and the Paducah/McCracken County Senior Center.  The Parks and Recreation offices are located in the Robert Cherry Civic Center located at 2701 Park Avenue.  

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

• Registration for all classes, leagues, and activities.
• Reservations for picnic shelters in Noble Park.
• Reservations for the Anna Baumer Community Center, the Arts and Crafts building, and Robert Cherry Civic Center.
• Noble Park Pool passes
• Facility has large activity rooms and one conference room.

The facility is located on 0.8 acres which used to be the West Kentucky Industrial College.  The historical marker in front of the building reads:  

Ground broken for this college on December 9, 1909 by Dennis H. Anderson, who had a determination to improve education for Negroes in Kentucky.  Cornerstone for first building laid, 1911.  Dr. Anderson failed to get bill passed in 1912 legislature to make school a state institution.  It did become state-supported in 1918 and by 1938 had grown to become the third largest Negro junior college in the United States.  Before it merged with Kentucky State, 1938, this college was served by Presidents D.H. Anderson, 1909-1937, and H.C. Russell, 1937-1938.  A vocational school established in 1938.  The following have served as its presidents:  M.H. Griffin, 1938-1943; H.C. Russell, 1943-1947; M.J. Sleet (Acting Pres.), 1947-1948; C.L. Timberlake, 1948-1957; and H.C. Mathis since 1957.  School has continued to meet the vocational needs of Kentuckians.