LA GRANGE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Oldham County officials are considering buying 225 acres of forested land near Buckner to preserve it as public parkland, a move officials say would protect one of the last large undeveloped tracts in the county.
Judge Executive David Voegele said the property includes trails, camping areas, and nearly 1.5 miles of frontage along Harrods Creek. He called it a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” and said public access to the creek does not currently exist.
"My point of view is that conservation and recreation is the highest and best use for this property," he said.
The property has been privately owned for decades by the Stewart family, who previously operated the Lawyer's Overlook event center on the site. County officials say they are exploring options to maintain the event space, existing trails and potentially add horse-riding trails and additional camping spaces if the purchase moves forward.
If approved, it would become the only public access point to Harrods Creek in the county and provide opportunities for recreation and fishing there.
"We are always looking for parks, and we try to find cool, new parks all over the place in Louisville and Oldham County to take our kids to explore nature and to get outside and have a safe place they can run," said Oldham County resident Kaylee Prather.
If approved, the park would become the only public access point to Harrods Creek in the county and provide opportunities for recreation and fishing there. Photo courtesy of The Weil Team, Coldwell Banker McMahan
Prather, who frequents area parks with her three daughters, believes the proposal is a good idea that could benefit other local families like hers.
"Any park like that which allows the girls, and all kids, to just get outside and enjoy and explore nature is so good," she said.
The purchase would also help preserve open space amid ongoing development pressures, Voegele believes.
"It's a legacy investment for the county that can, obviously, last decades and decades into the future," Voegele mentioned.
The current listing price is for more than $5 million, but county leaders believe the sellers are willing to negotiate the price.
The fiscal court is expected to discuss the proposal for the first time in Tuesday's fiscal court meeting.
"If the court passes on this property it's going to be very discouraging to me, and I think hundreds of other people in Oldham County," Voegele said.
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