Bowling Green Riverfront Park Master Planning

About the Project 

The park has two areas known as Riverfront Park East and West. River Street bisects the East and West park areas, which is an underdeveloped corridor extending north from the Barren River. Historic Downtown Bowling Green sits six blocks south of the park and benefitted from hundreds of millions of dollars of investment over the last two decades for projects related to performing arts, public parks, streetscape, residential, commercial spaces, medical facilities and a baseball stadium. The City desires this project to serve as a catalyst of change around the Riverfront and along River Street.

Riverfront Park East and West are connected by a newly constructed concrete walking path beneath the River Street Bridge. This path provides the only pedestrian connection between the park areas; there is no vehicular connection between the park areas due to River Street.

Riverfront Park East is a floodplain area that adjoins a bend in the Barren River, this approximately 55-acre area has gravel and asphalt 10’ walking paths along with a privately developed and maintained mountain bike trail, known as Low Hollow Trail. The walking path encircles the property and runs along the riverfront. This property abuts Weldon Peete Park, which is a County park and is not part of this project. This area sits at about 7-10’ above normal river level with very limited access to the water.

Riverfront Park West is primarily a closed Construction/Demolition Debris (C/D D) Landfill. The park area contains a 10’ gravel-walking path around the landfill area. This area contains a limited access boat ramp that provides public safety access to the Barren River beneath the historic pedestrian bridge. This area sits about 35’ above normal river level with no access to the water other than the boat ramp.

In 2022 the City received an award of a National Park Service (NPS) Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) grant in the amount of $750,000. As part of the grant application, the City agreed to provide a $1.5M match towards the grant. The City desires to develop the park over multiple phases with Phase I being ORLP and City Match funded.

Project Timeline

Phase in Progress
Current Phase

Task 1

Programming and Master Planning 

April/May - September 2023

Future Phase

Task 2

Phase 1 - Schematic Design 

Future Phase

Task 3

Phase 1 - Design Development 

Future Phase

Task 4

Phase 1 - Construction Documents 

Future Phase

Task 5

Phase 1 - Construction Administration 

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