HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – The Hopkinsville Committee of the Whole continued an discussion about Bluegrass Splash Family Aquatic Center, with present councilmembers weighing options about next steps including possibly flipping it into a public pool. The water park is currently closed and will remain closed through next season.
The city had previously formed a separate committee to provide recommendations for a course of action, but it was quickly dissolved in order to transition the decision-making process back to the council.
During the June 18 meeting, the committee of the whole was presented with three different courses of action to consider by Hopkinsville Public Works.
- No major change; repair leaks and replace underground piping: Estimated cost $4.6 million.
- Rebuild the water park, no additional features: Estimated cost $20-25 million.
- Rebuild and expand the water park: Estimated cost $25-40 million.
History of Bluegrass Splash, admission statistics
Bluegrass Splash was opened in 2007 under the supervision of the Hopkinsville/Christian County Joint Planning Commission, with the project costing $3.4 million. Initially, the much grander design included wave pool and extended lazy river, but both were eliminated. A major repair was required within the first year of operation, and the city received $60,000 from the construction company via legal recourse.
A detailed presentation outlined the following statistics about the water park during Thursday night’s meeting.
- The water park is open an average of 80 days a year.
- In 2025, 78% of visitors were from outside of Christian County.
- On average, 525 people attend every day during the season.
- Admission prices have remained the same since opening in 2007 with the average admission costing around $9.
According to public works, the city could recover the cost of basic repairs in one year if they double admission costs, raising it to an average of around $18.60. They could also recover the cost in two years if they raise it to $13.80.
Pitch for public pool, discussion during meeting
The water park’s operational budget has ended in a deficit every year for the past decade, with the average subsidy of $98,482 from the city’s general fund to accommodate the loss. Public Works Director Mike Perry said this is because of the limited seasonal dates of the park and inconsistent operational days due to weather.
“An answer might be not to do a full water park,” said Committee Chair Travis Martin. “Maybe just a big pool. There’s not a community pool in this town. It’s still going to be expensive, but cheaper than a water park.”
Mayor James R. Knight weighed in that a “dome” or covering could allow a pool to be utilized year-round, and provide a range of programming for the community. Knight also emphasized that they do not expect to make a profit off of quality-of-life investments.
Perry compared the potential project to the development of the Sportsplex, which operates at around a $25,000 deficit despite year-round recreation options, out of tournament hosting and consistent attendance.
At the end of the discussion, the committee decided to find a way to facilitate a widespread survey in the next few weeks for residents to best determine what will be best utilized in that space moving forward.
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