Hopkinsville City Council members approved the 2025 city ward map and discussed local recreation projects at their Tuesday meeting.
To start the meeting, the council recognized May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a proclamation reading. Hopkinsville Mayor J.R. Knight shared that the theme of this year’s Heritage Month is “A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience.”
Then Hopkinsville Police Department officers Garrett Huffman and Logan Durst were recognized for completing basic training and were sworn in by Knight.
The council approved an updated city ward map. The map is not undergoing any major changes, but three recent city annexations have been added to wards seven and eight.
Turning toward city trails and recreation areas, the council approved applying for grant funds from the Transportation Alternatives Program for the design and construction of phase three of the Hopkinsville Greenway System. When asked by Ward Six Council Member Travis Martin, Knight shared that phase three will take the walking bridge over Eagle Way Bypass and to Tie Breaker Park.
Work also continues on Rotary Park at Pardue Lane. Knight says sidewalks are going in and invites the community to donate to the construction of the park at hopkinsvillerotary.com/playground.
Areas of Hopkinsville are still recovering from the flooding that impacted the region in early April. Knight says the flooding resulted in damages to the water pumps at Little River Park and repair work is underway.
Then to honor late city council member Frederick Atkins who represented Ward One from 1999 to 2012 the council approved renaming the Second Street Park to “Fred Atkins Park.”
On Friday, Knight presented his proposed budget for fiscal year 2025-26. The budget will be discussed and possibly amended by council members before being approved. Ward Four Council Member Chuck Crabtree says he wants the city’s economic development endeavors to be handled by city staff rather than external organizations.
Council members are set to discuss the budget at Thursday’s Committee of the Whole meeting.
