A grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission will help fund improvements at Breaks Interstate Park, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said.
The $358,035 grant for the Ratliff Hole Area Renovation in Pike County will go toward a new trail, improved parking and restroom facilities and the repaving of an access road, Beshear said in a statement.
“Breaks Interstate Park is a natural wonder, and this investment shows Kentucky’s commitment to the success of our Appalachian regions,” Beshear said.
The Ratliff Hole Area is near a future pedestrian suspension bridge, and the project will provide a trail connecting the two.
“The Breaks Interstate Park Commission has been engaged in an ongoing effort to expand our offerings on the Pike County portion of park property,” Breaks Interstate Park Superintendent Austin Bradley said. “To that end, we have secured over $1 million in funding for the construction of a pedestrian bridge across the Russell Fork River, which will serve as a spectacular new trailhead for the Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail.”
Upon completion, the 750-foot bridge will become the longest pedestrian swinging bridge in the United States. These upgrades, along with other site improvements, are designed to double the number of visitors to the park over the next three years.
“The grant we are now receiving, through the Appalachian Regional Commission’s POWER Initiative, will make it possible to completely upgrade the roads, parking lots, access trails, and restroom facilities located at the trailhead,” Bradley said. “Thanks to these upgraded facilities, the park’s visitors will be better able to enjoy the myriad of hiking, fishing and kayaking opportunities found on the park’s Kentucky property.”
In addition to ARC funds, local sources will provide $89,509, bringing the total project funding to $447,544.
