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Gallatin County to pause Harding Park camping season; court narrows camping rules
Summary
To address misuse and management concerns, the court voted to end camping at Harding Park from Sept. 1 through April 1 and signaled plans to limit stays and adopt other controls; enforcement will involve park volunteers and sheriff coordination.
At the Aug. 8 meeting the fiscal court announced changes to camping rules at Harding Park, a roughly 530-acre county park along the Ohio River. Following meetings with concerned citizens and the sheriff, the court approved a motion to end general camping from Sept. 1 through April 1 and instructed staff and volunteers to develop further restrictions.
Officials said the move aims to reduce chronic unregistered camping, limit the maximum continuous stay (from an eight-day maximum toward a three-day maximum), and reserve camping for special occasions. The judge and magistrates discussed enforcement and eviction processes, noting that the park board — a volunteer board that maintains trails and facilities — would assist while the sheriff’s office would handle law-enforcement follow-up.
The motion to restrict camping passed by voice vote. The court said it will work with the park board and the sheriff to formalize rules and post notices before the Sept. 1 date.
