HOPKINS CO., KY (WFIE) -
A bill designed to create more outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities is now before the Kentucky Legislature.
It would allow cities and counties to enter into lease agreements with landowners to use their land for outdoor activities.
These outdoor activities include hiking, hunting, and riding ATVs and local communities are excited about the possibilities.
Hopkins County is home to acres upon acres of undeveloped land, but just a couple years ago, the city of Earlington created a 600 acre ATV park with over 10 miles of trails.
"We've had tourists as far as Chicago down here buying recreational permits," said Earlington Mayor Mike Seiber.
Senate Bill 116 is specifically designed to encourage more activities like ATV riding. Seiber says the city owns the land for the park, but says this bill could benefit them.
"The connecting property is for private coal mine use. We could use that to expand this to make this even bigger and it'd be an even bigger thing for Hopkins County," Seiber said.
The bill would provide economic incentives for these private landowners including tax rebates and grants to develop the land.
"It'd be wonderful to be able to expand, get more trails in, more opportunity for people to ride," said Parks and Recreations officer Buck Wright.
Hopkins County Tourism Director Trishia Noel says they don't have the same opportunities to attract people as cities like Louisville and Lexington and this bill helps more rural counties offer something different.
"The large land mass that we do have here in Hopkins County, it provides a great opportunity to put some of that land to work for us in a positive manner," Noel told 14 News.
The Economic Development for Local Communities would be one advantage, but Noel says it's also creating fun activities for locals.
"It gets people outdoors and gets them moving," noted Noel.
"Outdoor recreation is Hopkins County's heritage. People hunt, people fish. We need to remember that and keep people in Hopkins County and bring people to Hopkins County, and spend money in Hopkins County," Seiber says.
There's still several steps before it's passed but the bill is now up for consideration in Frankfort.
Copyright 2012 WFIE. All rights reserved.
