Aerial Foundation Park conservancy details events, River of Glass renovation and ongoing talks with city

Mike Miller, speaking for the Aerial Foundation Park Conservancy, briefed Mount Vernon City Council on the conservancy’s 2024 annual report and plans for 2025, highlighting large public events, site renovations and ongoing negotiations with the city over operations and maintenance.

Miller told council the conservancy and city staff partnered on grounds maintenance in 2024 and thanked local contractors and volunteers. He said the conservancy worked with the land bank and Habitat for Humanity on a South Vernon neighborhood revitalization project, noting 15 parcels were transferred and Habitat is building new homes in the Columbus Road area.

The conservancy reported several well-attended events in 2024: a solar eclipse viewing that drew roughly 3,000 people, Fourth of July programming with an estimated 8,000 attendees, and smaller summer concerts and “sunset socials.” For 2025, Miller said ticket sales for an upcoming Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder concert on June 21 were approaching 800 and that ticket prices ranged roughly from $28 to $98.

Miller described a multi-year River of Glass renovation tied to the park’s tenth anniversary. He said glass collected for the feature was placed and expected to be glued down imminently and that collaborators include Friends of the Conservancy and city staff; he encouraged residents to visit the work in progress.

Councilwoman Lynette Hager asked about the current relationship between the conservancy and the city. Miller said the conservancy and city have been negotiating for about a year with the aim that the city would take over operations and maintenance next year while the conservancy would continue special programming and event booking. He said the split reflects different skill sets and funding streams: the conservancy handles specialized event logistics and programming while the city would assume routine maintenance. Miller said two separate funds (a capital fund and a maintenance fund) exist for the park, and the parties were working with the mayor’s office and the city law director to resolve how funds and responsibilities would transfer.

On staffing and cost control, Miller said the conservancy used creative scheduling to reduce summer staffing costs, e.g., replacing three full-time seasonal roles with one full-time and two part-time positions to cut labor expenses. He also said the conservancy had used fill dirt from nearby Habitat projects to repair holes in the park and that increased volunteer and partner activity helped lower operating costs.

Miller closed by urging council members to read the full 2024 annual report and said the conservancy looks forward to continued cooperation with the city.

The council did not take formal action on the conservancy’s report during the meeting; Miller characterized the negotiations with the city as ongoing.