MUHLENBERG CO., KY (WFIE) -
In Muhlenberg County, a local group is working together to make improvements to Lake Malone State Park, and they're encouraging everyone to show their support.
Over the past several years, residents of Muhlenberg County say Lake Malone isn't what it used to be.
"I think over the years, it's been neglected," said resident Shannon Creek.
"I love it, but it's been going down for a long time," resident Janice Rust told 14 News.
Rust owns a shop near the park and says her business has declined over the years, and she thinks it could be because of the lack of visitors to the park.
"It's affected the bait, the gas, all of it," Rust said.
Representative Brent Yonts has supported this project for years now and says about a fourth of the park's four hundred acres has been neglected.
"Areas that used to be heavily picnicked on Sunday afternoon are now grown up," Yonts pointed out.
Yonts says their main hurdle is funding, but changes could boost the local economy.
"There's some businesses over there that are hurting, a private golf course closed because of inactivity in that area, so I'm trying to stimulate that area and make it productive," Yonts said.
Improvements to the park could include upgrades to the beach, boat rentals, a mini golf course, and cottages for visitors to rent.
Creek says providing lodging at the park would be a nice attraction.
"Even a lodge or cabins would be a huge asset, because the number of people that come in here looking for places to stay is huge, on our side of the lake there is none," said Creek.
A public meeting is set for May 17th with The Friends of Lake Malone, where more of these future plans for the park will be discussed.
That public meeting will be at 6:00 p.m. at the Rosewood Methodist Church in Greenville.
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