Bowling Green accepts $3.64 million federal grant for Barren River Whitewater Park

The Board of Commissioners on Oct. 21 authorized the city to accept a $3,640,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership grant for phase 3 of the Barren River Whitewater Park.

City staff said the project will remove an existing rubble dam and install engineered drop structures and wingwalls across roughly 3,000 linear feet of the Barren River downtown, altering flow to reduce hazardous currents, create side eddies for safer access and provide an accessible river edge for recreation. City staff described the work as phase 3 of an ongoing riverfront redevelopment effort. Brent Belcher and other grants staff credited grant writers Nick Cook and Jake Moore for securing more than $6.9 million in outside funding for multiple riverfront phases.

Mayor Todd Alcott and commissioners noted the project is primarily funded by outside grants; staff said the city’s required local contribution is approximately 5 percent of the total project cost (city staff estimated the cityʼs share at about $364,000 based on the grant and current project estimates). Staff outlined a phased schedule: phase 1 bid opening is imminent, phase 2 is planned for spring and phase 3 is likely one and a half to two years away for bidding. Officials said the project will improve river safety, reduce drowning risk at the current rubble dam and help position downtown Bowling Green as a regional destination.

The commission voted to ratify acceptance of the grant. Commission members praised the parks and grants teams and emphasized the projectʼs potential economic and recreational benefits for the region. The city said it is already seeking additional funds for phase 4 of the riverfront plan.