A $10 million project is slated to begin at AJ Jolly Park and lake this fall, which will keep the area safe and sustainable for at least the next half-century. But campers and kayakers will have to find a new place to enjoy the outdoors while work is underway.
Access to campgrounds will be closed from Nov. 1 to February 2027, Campbell County said in a news release, and park admission fees will be waived throughout the 2026 park season. A timeline for lake access closure has not been determined.
“We’re fixing the dam, cleaning the lake, and replacing a major culvert so families can enjoy this park for the next 60 years,” Steve Pendery, Campbell County Judge Executive, said in a news release.
Pickleball courts, golf course to remain open
Plans for the project include dredging the lake, repairing the concrete and foundation at the dam, and replacing a culvert near Flatwoods Road Cove with a bridge.
Other parts of the park might periodically close for safety reasons during construction, but for the most part, AJ Jolly Park’s other facilities will stay open. That includes the golf course, pickleball courts, disc golf, playgrounds, trails, shelters, sports fields, and the Stapleton Pavilion.
The project is funded through county and state resources and grants, the news release stated.
About AJ Jolly Park
At 1,000 acres, AJ Jolly Park is one of the largest parks in the state of Kentucky.
It features almost 90 campsites, about 20 miles of trails, six baseball fields, and more, the park website states.
When it opened in 1962, it was called Campbell County Public Park. It was renamed after Andrew J. Jolly Jr., former Campbell County Judge Executive, in 1976, The Enquirer previously reported.
Jolly pushed for the creation of the park and was known for his advocacy for public park resources.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: AJ Jolly Park campsites, lake to close for $10 million repair project