Chandler Presents Federal Funding For Two Garrard Projects
By Ted Cox
tcox@garrardcentralrecord.com
Garrard County received $40,000 for two environmental improvement projects through the Bluegrass PRIDE program during a presentation at Herrington Lake's Sunset Marina on Monday morning.
The grants presented were part of $100,000 in environmental-improvement grants U.S. Representative Ben Chandler handed out at the event. Two of the grants will go toward Garrard's construction of a walking path and to the Herrington Lake Conservation League to keep Herrington Lake clean and rejuvenate a historically relevant spring at Logan’s Fort.
“This was a big deal when Dix Dam was built. I don't think too many people here remember that because it was in 1925,” Chandler said. “But at the time it was a major thing. The Dam itself was the largest earth filled dam in the world at that time. It was quite an engineering feat. Of course that ended up creating this beautiful lake and all this shoreline around here that has resulted in a lot of development here in Garrard County and in Mercer, Boyle and the whole area. To some extent we have seen some neglect over the years. There have been problems with pollution in the lake. Trash essentially here and there along the lake. I am so glad that one of these projects is to help clean that up.”
Efforts to clean up the 325 miles of shoreline around Herrington began through the Herrington Lake Conservation League nine years ago.
“We're very excited to be working with Bluegrass PRIDE again,” Linda Alexander, President of the Herrington Lake Conservation League, said. “The $20,000 will go a long way toward getting all of the debris in Garrard County of the banks and out of the lake. When the conservation league was founded about nine years ago there were a whole lot of people who didn't think it could be done. We've obviously learned that it can be done because the difference in the lake between now and then is just phenomenal.”
Chandler expressed his appreciation for the people who live on the lake and have put their time in over the years and will continue put time in in conjunction with this project.
“It's a tremendous show of stewardship that we've seen and I know that Bluegrass PRIDE was very excited to be able to help with that project,” he said.
The maintenance on the lake with the geography and the ever-changing water level is going to be job security for someone, Alexander said.
“It is very important to keep people’s attention on that and to remember to pay their membership dues and come to our fundraisers and make there cash donations so that we can keep a work-crew out there working full time.”
Alexander said she's learned that the job will never be done. It will require constant maintenance.
“If you were to go out on a boat right now and look at some of the sloughs of tires, Styrofoam and debris floating around, it would just blow your mind,” she said.
Garrard County Fiscal Court also received $20,000 toward the new walking trail, which will be built around the city lake.
“I'm very appreciative of Bluegrass Pride, Bluegrass ADD, Congressman Chandler and all the community partners that we've got on this thing,” Judge-Executive John Wilson said. “I think it's very exciting. Every time our community has done a study on things needed in the community a walking trail is on the top of the list. This is something I think a lot of people are extremely excited about. We get a lot of calls about it and it's great to get this kind of recognition out of Lexington. We hope to have a lot of success with it.”
The project, first announced in December, will involve a 2.7-mile looped walking trail around Lancaster's city lake.
The goal of the trail is to promote active lifestyles for the citizens of Garrard County while preserving the natural aesthetic and environmental pieces of Lancaster's city lake and it's adjacent wooded area.
The first environmental component will involve cleaning up the litter site not only to add to the aesthetic quality of the location but also to improve the water quality of the lake and adjacent streams. Trash and recycling receptacles will be placed upon the trail to combat future littering. Native plants and trees will be planted in various areas around the trail and along the spillway to reduce run off, Bluegrass PRIDE Executive Director Amy Sohner said.
Educational signage will be posted along the trail highlighting various nearby natural resources, one of which is one the oldest and largest trees in Kentucky, which is located on the property.
Nearly 20 property owners have made agreements with the county for easements on their properties that will allow the path's construction. Many local businesses and organizations have also agreed to contribute funding and support for the project.
“We hope these grants go a long way in helping to restore central Kentucky's environment to the splendor it deserves,” Sohner said.
For more information on how to help or to join the Herrington Lake Conservation League visit www.hlcl.org
U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler awarded two $20,000 in Bluegrass PRIDE grants that will go to helping environmental projects in Garrard County. One grant was presented to Deputy Judge-Executive James Bushnell for the county walking trail. The other grant was presented to Linda Alexander, president of the Herrington Lake Conservation League to help further fund their effort to keep the lake and shorelines clean.
Bill Rutan, Chandler, Bushnell, Doan Adkison, Donna Powell, Stephen Price. William Price and Kittie Thompson posed for a photograph as the presentation came to a close at Sunset Marina Monday morning.
Congressman Ben Chandler presented Herrington Lake Conservation League President Linda Alexander a $20,000 environmental grant to help clean up the lake.