225 River Street
Frankfort, KY 40601

Dolly Graham Park Renovation Update – as of 9/1/21 (Subject to Change)

Basketball Court Re-surfacing and Re-lining is slated to be fully completed this fall.  In late August, the court received a fresh thick layer of asphalt which leveled the court as best as possible, filling in the majority of the low areas of the court, filling in large cracks in the surface and provided a strong base foundation layer.  Prior to the asphalting, studies and test were conducted to determine if there were any old sewer lines, water lines, wastewater lines or other factors causing the dip in the court and in the surrounding area.  Nothing major was found at this time.  However, being this close to the KY River and the Karst in the area, it is possible that future depressions or foundation issues could develop under the basketball court and surrounding areas. 

Coming later this fall, estimated to be mid to late October due to large backlog of projects on the schedule for the company performing the work, a SportMaster court surface system, color coating system, and new fresh professional installed court lines will be installed on top of the freshly paved basketball court.  See potential options, looks and color schemes below.   This is being completed by Tennis Technology of Louisville, KY, who performs all sorts of playing surface lines and coatings to provide a long lasting court surface.  See full information here on the court surface.  https://tennistechnologyinc.com/

• New Safety Fencing has been installed around the new playground area.  A new, shorter less obtrusive and more aesthetically pleasing, 4 foot black vinyl coated safety fence is used for protecting children from having direct access to the street.  The very close proximity of the playground to Murray Street requires a safety barrier for children.  More of the fencing will be replaced in phases as we move forward with the rest of the project.  The rest of the old fencing will remain in place for now and will serve as construction fencing for the splash pad.  After completion of the splash pad, the remaining fence along Norton Street and River Street will be replaced.   The fence type, material, etc. along Fowler Ave. is being determined for safety. 
   
• A New and Updated Park Parking Plan is currently in draft form and under review by city engineers and planners.   Increased and improved parking and traffic flow is being studied and the plan is being finalized.  More information to come soon as it becomes available.

A topographical and bounder survey by a professional engineer has been completed.  The splash pad is currently on track to begin construction later this year and tentatively set to be open to the public in the spring of 2022.  More information to come in the next update. 

• Sidewalk / ADA Accessibility Upgrades and Additions are currently ongoing for this summer and fall in and around the Dolly Graham Park and Fantasy Forest area.  More are planned as the project continues.  Many of the sidewalks are in poor condition; the city public works department will be continuing to repair sidewalks and adding new sidewalks and improving ADA access in areas where there are none currently.
   
• The Park Master Plan has been completed and approved by the Frankfort City Commission.   Dolly Graham Park has it is own section with multiple upgrades, new facilities, etc. is included in the proposed plan.   Full details of the plan can be found at www.frankfortparksandrec.com, located on the “Master Plan” tab.
   
• NOTE:  Please see below information on earlier updates, plans and time schedules.  This site will be updated as new information becomes available and renovations and additions begin on other sections of the park.  See our Facebook page for pictures of the project.  https://www.facebook.com/FrankfortParks/

Dolly Graham Park Renovation Update – as of 6/11/21 (Subject to Change)

• The new playground is open for public use as of 4 PM on Friday, June 11^th.  Due to the large amount of rain over the past couple of weeks, the area is very wet and muddy.  Fresh grass has been seeded and straw has been laid, however the area is still sensitive.  Please stay off freshly seeded grass areas until it has had a chance to take root.  Signage will be in place.  Enjoy the playground!
   
• Ribbon Cutting and Official Opening is scheduled for Saturday, June 19^th at the park.  We encourage and the public is welcome!  The event is tentatively scheduled to begin at 11:30 AM, As of Friday, June 11^th.  Local and state officials will be in attendance as well as food, ice cream and other activities.   Full details are being finalized and will be set soon.  Follow our social media and local media for updates.
   
• Restroom Renovations at the pavilion are nearly finished.  They will be open for public use as of Friday, June 11^th at 4 PM.  All new fixtures, toilets, sinks, stall dividers, fresh paint, refinished floors and new LED lighting have been installed.   Due to shipping and supply shortages, the men’s restroom urinal has not been installed, but will be in the near future. 
   
• Basketball Court Re-surfacing and Re-lining is slated to be completed this summer.   Final purchase requisitions and bids are being completed and the work is planned to begin soon.  The court will be leveled, filling in the low areas of the court, a fresh surfaced laid, and the court will be relined. 
   
• The New 3 Phase Water Fountain has been installed by the Frankfort Plant Board and is ready for public use.  Thank you to the Frankfort Plant Board for your work and dedication to this project.  The water fountain is adult, kid, pet and fully ADA accessible. 
   
• A New Flag Pole is currently being installed in partnership with the Frankfort Elks Club #530.  It will be located near the basketball court / picnic shelter area.  The park has not had a flag pole in the past. 
• A New and Updated Park Parking Plan is currently in draft form and under review by city engineers and planners.   Increased and improved parking and traffic flow is being studied and plan is being finalized.  More information to come soon as it becomes available.

Dolly Graham Park Renovation Update – as of 5/13/21 (Subject to Change)

The new playground installation has begun and is about 70% complete.  The structure, swings and play components are completely installed.  The last major part of the construction is the installation of the poured in place safety protective rubber surfacing.   This is a very critical and important step in the construction process.  Please do not attempt to enter the playground until it is safe to do so.  It is on schedule as of today to be completed opened by Memorial Day Weekend.  Please stay tuned for exact dates and times. 

Restroom Renovations at the Shelter are currently ongoing and all new fixtures, toilets, urinals, sinks, stall dividers, fresh paint, refinished floors and new LED lighting is currently being installed.  They are planned to completed and open by Memorial Day weekend and will be open during daylight hours.  

The New 3 Phase Water Fountain is currently being installed by the Frankfort Plant Board.  It is planned to be installed and ready for use by Memorial Day Weekend. 

A New Flag Pole and Landscaping Bed is currently being planned in partnership with the ER Frankfort Elks Club.  The exact location is being finalized and planned to be installed early this summer. 

A New and Updated Park Parking Plan is currently in draft form and under review by city engineers and planners.  More information to come soon as it becomes available. 

Please see below information on other updates, plans and time schedules.  This site will be updated as new information becomes available and renovations and additions begin on other sections of the park.  See our Facebook page for pictures of the project.  https://www.facebook.com/FrankfortParks/

Dolly Graham Park Renovation Update. 

As of 4/26/2021 @ 6:30 PM

SUBJECT TO CHANGE

NEW ADA Accessible PLAYROUND:  The installation of the new playground and poured in place rubber surfacing is scheduled to begin Tuesday, April 27^th 2021.  Completion, ribbon cutting and grand opening is tentatively set for mid to late May, 2021. Date TBD.  Playground will be open year round.

RESTROOMS:  The current restrooms located at the pavilion are currently undergoing a renovation.   New toilets, sinks, faucets, stall dividers, new LED lights, new exhaust fans, fresh paint & re-finished floors.  The renovation is planned to be completed and the restrooms opened daily tentatively by Memorial Day Weekend, 2021.   Once completed, restrooms will be open daily, April 1^st – Oct 31^st each year.   Closed Nov 1^st – March 31^st.

NEW MULTI-USE WATER FOUNTAIN:  A new 3-way commercial grade water fountain is planned to be installed by late May or early June.  In conjunction with the Frankfort Plant Board, the fountain can be used for adults, children and pets at three different levels.  It is planned to be centrally located between the pavilion and the new playground.  Fountain will be available early to mid-April through mid to late October, weather dependent.

SPLASH PAD:  Brandstetter Carroll, Inc. out of Lexington, KY is currently designing and providing the necessary engineering, plumbing, permits and architecture plans and stamped blueprints for the splash pad.  Design features, ADA access, water circulation and public health and safety considerations and proper local and state certifications and permits are currently underway.  After all engineering and design features are completed and the proper certifications and permits are received, construction is estimated to begin in the late summer or fall 2021 and be tentatively opening in the spring of 2022. 

BASKETBALL COURTS:  Bids are currently being taken for renovations of the basketball court.  Engineering and excavating companies are bidding and proposing strategies for demolishing, repairing and securing the foundation as best as possible, and resurfacing, relining and placing new goals and rims on the courts.  Due to uncertainty and the instability of the ground underneath the courts, careful consideration and engineering plans are being taken.   Estimated timeline for court restoration is summer/early fall 2021, pending outcomes form engineering reviews. 

SITE Amenities:  Picnic tables, benches, trash cans, bike racks, dog mutt mitt stations and security cameras are currently being ordered and will be placed as constructions continues.

FENCING:  Current old fencing surrounding some sections of the park is planned to be removed and replaced with new fencing for children safety purposes and code requirements as construction continues.  Current old fencing will remain in some areas and act as construction fencing until near completion.  The majority of fencing is planned to be replaced by spring/summer 2022. 

LANDSCAPING:  Fresh landscaping will occur as construction continues. 

SEE BELOW FOR PICTURES AND EARLIER UPDATES

Dolly Graham Park Renovation Project Updates: (as of 3/5/2021)

NOTE:  Information on this page will be updated as the project advances and as new information becomes available. Project details and timelines are subject to change at any time.

The recent snow, ice and flooding has slowed some of the progress on the project.  However we are still on schedule and don’t foresee significant delays.  Brandstetter Carroll, Inc. out of Lexington KY, the same company performing the current parks comprehensive master plan, was selected by the city commission at the Monday, Feb 22nd meeting to provide services for the architecture and engineering for the splash pad aquatic facility and restroom renovations.  They will begin work on designing the splash pad and making recommendations for restroom renovation.  Public input processes will be a part of the process for the splash pad and restrooms specifically.  More information to be provided as the process continues. 

The Frankfort Plant Board, in partnership with the parks department, will be installing a brand new water fountain with 3 different access points to drinking water, one for adults, one for children and a third for pets.  Installation is planned for April or May of this year.  

Please see additional updates below on full information concerning the playground installation as well as other park improvements.  After winter weather and flooding conditions improve, foundation work playground will continue.  As of today, Friday, March 5th, 2021, the installation of the new playground is planned to begin in April and set to open prior to local school summer vacations. 

Open the Renovation Project as a .pdf

Dolly Graham Park Renovation Project Updates : (as of 1/12/2021)

NOTE : Information on this page will be updated as the project advances and as new information becomes available. Project details and timelines are subject to change at any time.

Finalized Agreement with the KY Department of Land and Government (DLG), NationalPark Service (NPS) and the City of Frankfort: On Tuesday, Jan 12, the City of Frankfort received the final approval to move forward with the project. In a statement from  Jessica Hill, the Federal Program Specialist with the KY Department of Local Government stated:

“I am pleased to announce that the National Park Service has completed their review and “Attachment B: Special Conditions” of the executed MOA, attached for reference, have been met. The City of Frankfort may commence work on the Dolly Graham Park EnhancementsLWCF project.”

Demolition work will begin in the coming days. Additional information concerning start of construction, a potential ground breaking ceremony, and other project details coming soon as they are finalized. See below for other project updates prior to the finalized agreement being approved.

Dolly Graham Park Renovation Project Updates : (as of 1/11/2021)

NOTE: Information on this page will be updated as the project advances and as new information becomes available. Project details and timelines are subject to change at any time.

Finalized Agreement with the KY Department of Land and Government (DLG), NationalPark Service (NPS) and the City of Frankfort: In November, 2020, after significant delaysdue to COVID-19, The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was fully executed between DLGand the City. As a final step in the Land and Water Conservation (LWCF) Grant process, theagreement is currently being reviewed by the National Park Service (NPS) to ensure it meets alltheir requirements. In November, 2020, the city was given January 1 st , 2021 as a estimated timeline for their review to be complete. As of Monday, January 11th, 2020, the city had notreceived written confirmation. The city remains in close contact with the necessary parties forupdates on the final approval. Once final approval is received from the NPS, work will proceed.

Below is an excerpt directly from the executed MOA between DLG and the City of Frankfort.

Per MOA with the Commonwealth of KY, City of Frankfort Dolly Graham ParkEnhancement LWCF 21-1559 :

 “This grant has been awarded prior to the NPS and the Recipient completing the required reviews of the project in accord with Section 106 of theNational Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)and making a determination as to the project’s potential to cause impacts or effects toenvironmental or cultural resources. As such, the Recipient (and Sub-Recipient) is (are) not authorized to perform any work under the project except as needed to complete compliance, particularly any ground disturbing activities, nor draw down any funds. The condition will remain in effect unless and until the NHPA Section 106 and NEPA processes are completed andapproved by the LWCF program with a determination of whether further review, documentation, and/mitigation measures are required; and the Recipient has satisfied any requirements contained in the LWCF program determination. Once the requirements have been successfully completed, the LWCF program will notify the Recipient in writing the review is complete, work on the project may commence, and reimbursement of Grant funds is authorized.”

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Current Playground Equipment Removal : It was approved by the city commission at the December voting meeting to remove the current playground equipment and prepare the area for the construction of the new playground. The old playground is scheduled to be removed whena completed agreement with the NPS, as stated above, has been finalized and the officialapproval to start the project has been received.

New Playground Installation : New playground (see picture below) is scheduled to be installed by Miracle Recreation of KY/TN. Weather and air temperatures will determine when installation is completed. The poured in place rubber protective safety surfacing requires air temperatures over 40 degrees for proper installation, and installation requires several days with temperatures over 40 degrees for the duration of the installation.

Release Invitation For Bid (IFB) for Splash Pad and Restroom Renovations: An IFP iscurrently being finalized with the City Solicitor and City Purchasing Agent and set to be released when final approval from NPS has been received to advertise to hire an architecture /engineering company, firm or individual to design the splash pad and restroom renovationproject and oversee the construction process from start to finish.

Hire Architecture / Engineering Company, Firm or Individual : Review and evaluate the IFB responses and select company, firm or individual for the project. As well as have them approved by the city commission.

New Playground Opening: Open new playground for full community use, estimated April/May 2021.

Restrooms Renovated: Renovate existing restrooms at shelter, it is our hope to have them completed in conjunction with playground installation and opening.

Other Updates and details will be released as soon as they become available.

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Additional Initiatives:

Park Maintenance: 2 additional new maintenance part-time positions have been added to the downtown maintenance and beautification division to improve daily maintenance and care.

Safety and Security : Plans are in progress to hire “Park Rangers” or “Ambassadors” to provide additional security and thorough park inspections during high traffic times such as nights and weekends. The part time positions would include, but not limited to, checking and securing facilities, inspecting for needed maintenance or cleaning and reporting immediately, report vandalism, providing assistance to park users, and other duties.

Parks Comprehensive Master Plan : Dolly Graham Park is a top priority and a key focus of the ongoing parks master plan, scheduled to be complete in the spring/early summer of 2021.

Other Measures Taken:

- Invasive Species Removal
- Employee and volunteer maintenance work days held, additional future work days
planned.
- Multiple dead or dying trees were removed for safety and aesthetics.
- Fresh mulch added to playground
- Fencing was cleaned of vines and over growth
- New LED lights installed in shelter
- Landscaping improvements to shelter areas
- Pressure washed shelter
- New park entrance sign installed
- Improvements to the Labyrinth area.
- Working with the owner of the VFW building adjacent to the park to assist with clean up.