Water Park Discussed in Boyd County, Ky.
Water Park Discussed in Boyd County, Ky. Save Email Print
Posted: 10:29 PM Aug 25, 2008
 Last Updated: 10:29 PM Aug 25, 2008
 Reporter: Randy Yohe
Email Address: randy.yohe@wsaz.com
21 comments
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CATLETTSBURG, Ky. (WSAZ) -- While much of our region is a tourism magnet, it sometimes has trouble attracting tourists from the outside.

Boyd County, Ky., leaders however, have plans to get those tourism dollars coming in. With a Waves of Fun (a Hurricane, W.Va., wave pool park) brochure in front of them, the Boyd County Commission, some local YMCA board members and others are talking recreation. The early thought was to build a county swimming pool, but that idea has evolved into a bigger splash – talk of a water and sports park.

The Commission has a meeting set up with Dan Mongiardo to hopefully get on the Lieutenant Governor’s Kentucky Adventure Tourism funding bandwagon. They want this water and sports park to become a travelers' destination.

The Boyd County leaders' wish list for a water and sports park also includes batting cages and miniature golf. They already have toured a community water park in Richmond, Ky., and plan to visit one near Cincinnati soon.
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Posted by: missy&mark on Aug 27, 2008 at 09:30 PM
this is to patti stokes, i guessing that you probably dont have the body for a bikini. and maybe not even a grandma swimsuit. and your husband wasnt looking at you. thats why you have a problem with bikini clad woman. dont be such a prude patti.waterpark sounds good!
Posted by: MrObvious on Aug 27, 2008 at 08:49 PM
Hmmm, perhaps Patti needs to hit the gym before going to the pool and she is upset that her bikini days seem to be over. I think Patti just needs a little encouragement to hit the gym and get a little exercise. No big deal, seems I've grown a size or two since my youth, but I've always worn a one piece! Bottoms only! LOL...anyway, you go Patti, we can't wait to see your new bod...
Posted by: cm on Aug 27, 2008 at 12:07 PM
we need this in boyd county. we dont have nothing to do in the summer but summer motion and fairs. but they dont last long enough. it would be nice.. and bud stevens would have ALOT of votes,again!
Posted by: Rod on Aug 27, 2008 at 10:22 AM
If they open this park, the really need to make sure there is a no bikini rule... last time I visited a pool it looked more like a sinful strip club then a place for family recreation! We had to leave after visiting Wet 'n Wild in Jackson, OH because too many bodies were exposed. I don't know Patty, maybe, just maybe, they had bikinis on "BECAUSE IT'S A POOL!!!!"
Posted by: too funny on Aug 27, 2008 at 09:14 AM
Im guessing Patti isnt a bikini wearer....lol Great idea, lets make people wear only wear street clothes in the water park so people arent exposed to bodies. I hope you didnt turn on the Olympics these past 2 weeks because (spoiler), there were people exposed in bathing suits the same as at the community pool. Do you think Michael Phelps should have his medals stripped for wearing his swimsuit too low? lol
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 27, 2008 at 08:52 AM
Seems like a good idea. If nothing else, it creates a few jobs and gives the children of the area something to do. Best case scenerio, it attracts a lot of tourism to the Boyd County, Kentucky area. While they are there, other businesses will benefit. If we can only get Huntington in the mindset for progress for the city. On top of that, everyone seems to be for it! Not sure if the situation would be the same in Huntington. Too many that want the progress, but not in our backyard mentallity. Go for it!
Posted by: MrObvious on Aug 27, 2008 at 07:58 AM
I'm sure we do not need to ban bikinis. Sometimes I wonder where I live because I've been all over this country and it seems that the successful places are the ones that do not try and nanny-sit everyone. Do this, don't do that... I think it hinders our region. It makes us the joke of the nation.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 26, 2008 at 09:38 PM
Progressive ideas like these are well overdue in Boyd Co. If this gets accomplished Bud Stevens will have my vote again!
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 26, 2008 at 01:55 PM
This is a wonderful idea. We need more family oriented activities. This will encourage residents to participate in family type recreation. We need a safe, active place for our youth in this area. I believe this will attract tourists, but I also believe that residents here will utilize this park because of the variety it will offer. I say hats off to our County Judge for having forward thinking where our youth and community are concerned.
Posted by: Kendall on Aug 26, 2008 at 01:54 PM
Here is a link to the water park in Galveston,Tx. Go check it out it would work so well here. http://www.schlitterbahn.com/gal/attractions/parkmap/GalvestonMap.pdf
Posted by: Patti Stokes on Aug 26, 2008 at 01:43 PM
If they open this park, the really need to make sure there is a no bikini rule... last time I visited a pool it looked more like a sinful strip club then a place for family recreation! We had to leave after visiting Wet 'n Wild in Jackson, OH because too many bodies were exposed.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 26, 2008 at 01:13 PM
a water/sports park like the one in Richmond would be a great idea to provide recreation to people already in boyd co.; however, it will unlikely become a "tourist destination."
Posted by: Happy in BC on Aug 26, 2008 at 12:32 PM
I am glad that finally Boyd Co is starting to get some new things to do, it seems like Ashland gets all the new restaurants, somthing like this would be totally different. I just hope that they make it worth the drive for others. I agree with Kendall that it needs to be a "real" water park and done right, not just one slide like waves of fun.
Posted by: Rita on Aug 26, 2008 at 11:10 AM
I think this is a wonderful idea. This will be a positive assest to the community. This will bring people from all over the Tri-State to enjoy this park. I commend the judge and commissioners for having the foresight to bring this excellent waterpark to our area.
Posted by: BC resident on Aug 26, 2008 at 09:08 AM
This will be great! Make sure it is in a place with ROOM! Things too crowded in water parks make for some nasty situations.
Posted by: WhataboutHuntington on Aug 26, 2008 at 08:41 AM
Huntington needs to put a Great Wolf Lodge type water park at Kinetic Park.
Posted by: Ann on Aug 26, 2008 at 08:33 AM
I think this is a great idea. Do it in the name of tourism and you can use some of the hotel/motel tax monies collected in Boyd County... It will bring tourist in and the locals can benefit from it too... I hope this dream becomes a reality...
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 26, 2008 at 08:31 AM
an authentic skateboard park would be a great idea for this area
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 26, 2008 at 06:59 AM
I think this is a great idea, it will give kids and adults alike something to do in our area, plus bring in outside tourism. I think it would be great to add an Go Cart Track as well, this way it apeals to a wide variety of people.
Posted by: Kendall on Aug 26, 2008 at 05:56 AM
They need to go to Galveston,Tx. to see a real water park that place is awesome !! Part of it is indoors so it can be open all year round. Called Schlitterbahn water park it would bring thousands of people like Kings Island does. With part of it being indoors we would benifit year round.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 25, 2008 at 11:37 PM
Just dont put it in the city limits of Ashland and we might have something that will work in the summer.
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