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Campbell County parks report: visitation climbed in 2024 as new amenities come online
Summary
Parks director Larry Harrod told the Fiscal Court that park use rose across facilities in 2024, citing about 4,200 season passes sold and roughly 3,600 camping reservations; the county also completed several safety and amenity upgrades at AJ Jolly and Pendry Park.
Larry Harrod, Campbell County parks and recreation director, told the Fiscal Court on Dec. 5 that the county’s parks saw an uptick in use during the 2024 season, with “around 4,200 season passes” sold and “camping reservations... around 3,600.”
Harrod said regular programs and special events drove increased visitation. He reported high attendance on Jolly Thursdays—“Our high this year was 481”—and estimated Festival on the Lake drew about 1,850 paid attendees, with total attendance likely above 2,000 once children and vendors were included. He also said the Sun Valley Bluegrass Festival returned to “over a thousand” attendees after a rain-affected year.
The director reviewed specific capital and maintenance work completed this year at AJ Jolly and Pendry Park. Harrod said the county installed a kayak dock and a kiosk near the dam, added 15 kayak-storage slots (all rented), repaved and restriped the inner walking loop, added a crosswalk to improve pedestrian safety, completed a fenced playground with benches and shade, and installed baby-changing stations in bathhouses. He said staff added a dump station in the campground to ease Sunday congestion and replaced or refreshed disc golf signage.
Harrod credited county maintenance crews and partner organizations—Campbell County youth soccer groups, local Scouts, the Northern Kentucky Horse Network and the Community Development Council—for contributing to programming and site improvements. He recognized Jeff Baker as the new Community Development Council president and publicly thanked long-time volunteer Donna Grey Henson, who is retiring from the council.
Members of the Fiscal Court praised the parks staff and the Community Development Council for increased amenities and visitor numbers. An unidentified speaker commended the cross-department collaboration and “continuous improvement” of the park system.
County officials said the improvements and rising patronage strengthen park programming but noted that larger new amenities such as a splash pad or pool would require future funding decisions and trade-offs.
The parks report prompted no formal action; the Fiscal Court moved on to other agenda items.
