The event will be Wednesday, October 22 at 2 p.m. with activities starting at the boat launch located at North 6th and Burnett Streets.
After the ceremony which should last approximately a half hour, everyone is invited to ride a PATS trolley or borrow a bicycle provided by BikeWorld and head to the ceremony for the new section of the Greenway Trail. The ceremony will be held at the underpass at U.S. 45 North 8th Street. Light refreshments will be provided at each location.
City Engineer-Public Works Director Rick Murphy said, “The Ohio River Boat Launch offers a large boat ramp, 85 parking stalls, and a courtesy dock for people to enjoy. This facility is dedicated specifically for recreation and boater use.” Murphy added, “Before the construction of this facility, boaters who used the ramp at the foot of Broadway would have interruptions due to downtown events. Also, the foot of Broadway provides only 39 parking stalls when the river is at pool at 16 feet, and when the river is at 28 feet, the riverfront at Broadway is closed to boaters. With the Ohio River Boat Launch, even when the river is on the high side, there is plenty of parking and river access.”
“The Boat Launch provides surveillance and security features to protect people’s assets while enjoying the river. Plus, the Boat Launch is the first publically lit facility in Paducah using LED lights,” said Murphy.
The stretch of Greenway Trail featured in this ribbon cutting ceremony includes a 52-foot long lighted underpass to allow the safe crossing of U.S. 45. This new section of concrete trail is 1.2 miles in length and follows the top of the floodwall levee. It starts at Noble Park adjacent to the skatepark and connects to existing trail near U.S. 45.
Parks Services Director Mark Thompson said, “We are proud to open our newest section of the Clyde F. Boyles Memorial Greenway Trail. Paducah now offers a continuous Greenway Trail that stretches from County Park Road to the Convention Center, a total of 4.5 miles.”
Thompson added, “I would like to thank the citizens and users of the Greenway Trail for your support and patience as City staff worked diligently towards the completion of this important project. The Greenway Trail will serve the citizens of Paducah as a healthy lifestyle venue and as an alternate mode of transportation for years to come.”
