INDEPENDENCE, Ky. (WKRC) – Kenton County leaders are investing $20 million into transforming a former golf course into a 200-acre park.

It’s a move they said will be a game-changer for attracting more visitors to the area.

Kenton County Judge Executive Kris Knochelmann emphasized the importance of parks to the community’s vitality.

“If you don’t have good parks, you’re probably not a vital community, and that’s what we want,” said Knochelmann.

The new park, located at the site of the former Fox Run Golf Club in Independence, will feature multi-use trails, a playground, and pickleball courts. Additionally, existing creeks will be restored to their natural flow.

“The creeks that have been covered over to make way for some of the golf course areas, we’ll actually return those to the natural flow, which is a great thing for that resource,” Knochelmann said.

Inspired by the Eons Adventure Park currently in development in Erlanger, the new park aims to enhance the region’s outdoor offerings without duplicating existing facilities.

“We’ve got great existing parks. We’ve been investing in those, but I would say what people want to look forward to is that Kenton County is on the map. Got great ideas here at Erlanger, where they’re working on Eons Park as well. We’re not going to be duplicative. It’s adding the ability to really enjoy the outdoors and be together with your family and friends.” Knochelmann said. “It’s adding the ability to really enjoy the outdoors and be together with your family and friends.”

Knochelmann believes the park will contribute to making Kenton County a desirable place to live, work, and play.

“The higher level of quality of life we all have, if it’s safe and if we have good schools, that’s why people want to move here. We want to be a draw when we talk about the workforce. People want to live where they can get to a park. They want to live where there’s a nice park and something that their families, their entire families, can enjoy,” said Knochelmann.

Construction on the park is expected to begin in the next six months, with completion anticipated in the coming years.