HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Jeffers Bend Environmental Center in Hopkinsville is further expanding their offerings to the community with an ongoing development of a playground. The process to establish this new family area began in August, with the first few items installed this fall.
This new play area is located across from their parking lot in close proximity to their public hiking trails and lake. The giant chair at the center has immediately become popular, with a climbing structure and several picnic tables also in place. Charles Turner, RC&D Coordinator with Jeffers Bend, said the equipment has been constructed by members of the Mennonite community in Pembroke.
“We are just in the beginning of it,” said Turner. With so many family events that are hosted at Jeffers Bend throughout the year, he said parents and grandparents have been asking for years to have a place for kids to play.
With the goal of debuting the finished playground during their Take Kids Fishing Day in May of 2027, Turner said they will soon install a swing, crawling tunnels and other equipment for younger kids, all while utilizing natural wood materials. Turner added, “It should be as natural looking as possible, not heavily laden with plastic.”
Amid continued development at the playground, Turner said it is open for public use in the meantime. Along with hiking trails, Jeffers Bend features botanical gardens maintained by Christian County Master Gardeners and a wildlife observatory and they host multiple events and education opportunities throughout the year as found on their website.
They are located at 1170 Metcalfe Lane and are open from dawn to dusk, with the entrance at Riverside Cemetery.
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