With more than 40 locations statewide, the Kentucky Parks System has long offered state residents and tourists alike the experience of the great outdoors. Be it camping, fishing, site-seeing, learning, hiking — there’s something somewhere for everyone.
But in the last two years, the Kentucky Parks System has played its part in the recovery and stabilization of human lives — perhaps an unintended, but very much needed, consequence of terrific locations, safe campuses, large dining rooms, warm kitchens and basic amenities for those who need them most.
In 2020, before much was known about the disease, COVID-19 quarantines spent days separated from civilization — housed on historic grounds across the Commonwealth as a safety precaution while diagnostics were returned through testing.
One year later, seven state parks in west Kentucky now house displaced guests from the December 10 and 11 tornadoes — with these beloved parks shifting from winter closures and seasonal layoffs, to full-bore operations on the shoulders of a few full-time employees, and an army of federal, regional and local volunteers manning the posts.
One of those state parks is the Lake Barkley State Resort Park — which currently houses more than 150 relocated citizens from around west Kentucky.
Its park manager, David Miller, has seen a staff at full tilt since power was restored 48 hours after the storms. But it’s a place they’d seen before, having been one of the locations in 2020 for COVID-19 triage.
State parks across the Commonwealth have wish lists they’d love to see filled each year. New carpet. Upgraded HVAC systems. Paved bicycle paths. New canoes. The list varies from site to site.
Lake Barkley State Park is dealing with its own ordeal on top of this emergency status, as a November 27 structure fire rendered more than 60 rooms in the 100-200 wing of the lodge basically uninhabitable due to water and smoke damage.
It was an emotional day with four fire departments combining to save the structure. And while no one was hurt in the fire, no one knew a natural disaster was going to strike the area less than a month later.
Miller noted that those 60-plus rooms could’ve been turned into makeshift, piecemeal shelters if the necessity absolutely demanded it, but that it would’ve required a miraculous turnaround — and that, thankfully, those who’ve needed emergency housing have gotten it.
And volunteers have come out in droves.
Governor Andy Beshear has already extended family stays from two weeks to four weeks, which would bring an end date around January 9.
Miller, however, expects that to be extended — especially to families who will be told they cannot return to their original homes.
More than half of those displaced by Kentucky’s tornadoes have found refuge in west Kentucky’s state parks.
