Kentucky HB 88: AN ACT establishing celebratory commissions for the Kentucky State Parks centennial anniversary, the Old Fort Harrod State Park semiquincentennial anniversary, and the United States semiquincentennial anniversary.

Bill Text

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AN ACT establishing celebratory commissions for the Kentucky State Parks 1
centennial anniversary, the Old Fort Harrod State Park semiquincentennial anniversary, 2
and the United States semiquincentennial anniversary. 3
WHEREAS, the parks system of the Commonwealth of Kentucky will reach 100 4
years of service to the citizens of the Commonwealth in 2024; and 5
WHEREAS, since its commencement in 1924 with the creation of Cumberland 6
State Park, now known as Pine Mountain State Park, the parks system has grown to 7
include 46 resorts, recreational parks, and historic sites throughout the Commonwealth; 8
and 9
WHEREAS, the parks system provides recreational opportunities for hiking, 10
camping, boating, fishing, golfing, horseback riding, and caving within the naturally 11
beautiful landscapes of the Commonwealth; and 12
WHEREAS, the parks systems provides educational opportunities for the public to 13
experience the history of the Commonwealth; and 14
WHEREAS, the parks system has contributed to the economic well-being of the 15
Commonwealth by drawing out-of-state tourists to its lakes, trails, and campgrounds; and 16
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth would be the poorer if the Kentucky State Parks 17
system had not been established; and 18
WHEREAS, Fort Harrod was settled in 1774 by settlers led by James Harrod; and 19
WHEREAS, Fort Harrod was the first permanent pioneer settlement west of the 20
Allegheny Mountains; and 21
WHEREAS, Old Fort Harrod State Park was established in 1927 to memorialize 22
these intrepid pioneers; and 23
WHEREAS, Old Fort Harrod State Park has been a vital contributor to the 24
community and economy of Harrodsburg and Mercer County as a whole; and 25
WHEREAS, it is vital to preserve the history of the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 26
order to educate future generations of Kentuckians; and 27

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WHEREAS, the years 1774 to 1776 were critical to the founding of the 1
Commonwealth of Kentucky, the creation of the Declaration of Independence, and the 2
formation of United States of America; and 3
WHEREAS, Kentuckians contributed so much to the American Revolution with 4
many Kentuckians heeding the call to arms to help secure our independence from Great 5
Britain; and 6
WHEREAS, the town of Harrodsburg, the first permanent English settlement west 7
of the Allegheny Mountains, was first settled in 1774 and will celebrate 250 years of 8
history in 2024; and 9
WHEREAS, Boone Trace, marked by Daniel Boone and his party of trailblazers in 10
1775, was the primary entrance for Europeans moving westward into what is now 11
Kentucky, creating the genesis for westward movement; and 12
WHEREAS, Native Americans, who lived in what is now Kentucky for thousands 13
of years, were catastrophically affected by this European westward expansion; and 14
WHEREAS, during this period some of the first enslaved people of African descent 15
traveled into what is now Kentucky, bringing slavery into the region for the first time; and 16
WHEREAS, the United States Semiquincentennial Commission was established to 17
provide for the observance and commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding 18
of the United States and related events through local, state, national, and international 19
activities, planned, encouraged, developed, and coordinated by a national commission 20
representative of appropriate public and private authorities and organizations; and 21
WHEREAS, the United States Semiquincentennial Commission has encouraged 22
states to establish state-level commissions to plan and coordinate activities within each 23
state celebrating the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding; and 24
WHEREAS, the establishment of a Kentucky Semiquincentennial Commission 25
would enhance tourism, economic development, historic appreciation, historic 26
preservation, genealogical connections, and outdoor recreation within the 27

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Commonwealth; 1
NOW, THEREFORE, 2
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 3
SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 148 IS CREATED TO 4
READ AS FOLLOWS: 5
(1) The Kentucky State Parks Centennial Commission is established to plan and 6
implement events to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the state parks 7
system in 2024. To accomplish its charge, the commission shall: 8
(a) Assist local governments and organizations with planning, preparation, and 9
grant applications for parks centennial events and projects; 10
(b) Coordinate events and activities with parties, commissions and 11
organizations wishing to participate in the centennial celebration; 12
(c) Seek funding sources such as foundations, line items, federal grants, and 13
philanthropic organizations; 14
(d) Create press, print, and electronic contacts that generate stories on a 15
continual basis; and 16
(e) Perform other duties necessa