Let’s play ball! Meredith Announces $1.45 Million in State Funding for Park Upgrades
HWY 70 Sports Complex. PHOTO | Lynn Bledsoe
Special to The Edmonson News
Frankfort, Kentucky (April 10, 2027) – After months of working to secure funding for upgrades and improvements to the Highway 70 Sports Complex, Representative Michael Lee Meredith announced this week that the Kentucky General Assembly has allocated $1.45 million to make the project possible. The funding was included in House Bill 900, passed by lawmakers before they adjourned for the ten-day veto period.
“I’m thrilled to have been able to secure funding for these park improvements, but what makes this especially meaningful to me is my history with the park. These are the same fields where my mom volunteered when the little league program was just getting started again, where I grew up playing, and where I’ve watched my own girls take the field during the last few years. It’s more than an investment in our parks. It is an investment in our children, the future of our community,” Meredith said.
The funding will make it possible for the county to move forward with significant improvements, including reshaping, rebuilding, and leveling the ball fields and dugouts and other park projects.
Meredith was quick to praise the county’s parks and recreation staff for their efforts to maintain all parks facilities, as well as their commitment to keeping the Highway 70 Sports Complex updated.
Magistrate TJ Massey said the upgrades will have an impact for years to come, “This investment is more than new fields, it’s extremely personal. It’s a generational investment in the kids and families of Edmonson County. Investing in the kids was a big reason I even wanted to be in office. I’m especially thankful to Representative Michael Meredith for his support. As dads with daughters the same age playing together on these fields for the past several years, we both understand just how important this investment is for our kids and future generations.”
Edmonson County Judge Executive Ronald Scott Lindsey added, “We are grateful to Representative Michael Meredith and the Kentucky General Assembly for this much-needed funding to upgrade the park facilities at the Highway 70 Sports Complex. These are projects our Parks and Recreation Department has been working toward in small phases due to their available budget. With this funding, we can now move forward, complete these upgrades more efficiently, and do so while remaining within our existing Parks and Recreation budget. We are thankful for Representative Meredith and how hard he works for the people of Edmonson County.”
HB 900 represents a continued effort by Kentucky lawmakers to make strategic investments in rural communities, ensuring they have the resources needed to thrive while preserving the character and strengths that make them unique.
“This is what is possible when we put our constituents and communities first. HB 900 marks the second time the legislature has been able to make significant, one-time investments using excess funds from the Budget Reserve Trust Fund,” Meredith added. “Because we’ve remained committed to responsibly managing taxpayer dollars, focusing on our state’s most pressing needs, and prioritizing thoughtful spending, we’re able to seize opportunities like this to make smart, lasting investments.”
Under the provisions of the bill, the money will be allocated to the Department of Local Government, which will in turn release the money to Edmonson County Fiscal Court. The measure was delivered to the governor for his consideration. Lawmakers will return to Frankfort on April 14 and 15 to consider overriding any gubernatorial vetoes and adjourn the session.
***Editors notes*** The walking bridge rebuild project is a separate issue due to it being an on-going FEMA Project. FEMA Projects are currently on hold due to the government shutdown.
