Kenton County Parks & Recreation

08/31/2026

Did you know you might spot a bald eagle soaring through one of our parks? 🦅

These incredible birds are a sight to see and have some fascinating habits! Bald eagles mate for life and build massive nests high in large trees near rivers, lakes and other wetlands. Many pairs return to the same nest year after year, adding to it each season and making it even bigger.

The bald eagle is also the only eagle species found solely in North America, with a range stretching from Canada to northern Mexico. In 1782, the Second Continental Congress chose this iconic bird as the national symbol of the United States.

📍Doe Run Lake Park
📷: Casey McKinney

08/28/2026

Soak up the last weeks of summer on the water at Doe Run Lake with Schack’s Yaks! 🛶

The kayaks are fun and easy to rent. Just search "Schack's Yaks" in the app store, set up your account and start your rental. Kayak rentals are charged by the hour, so you can paddle for as long as you’d like.

Grab a kayak and get outside this weekend!

08/27/2026

🌳 There are two sessions left in our Nature Connection series you won't want to miss! 🌳

Join us for our two September dates where adults can connect with nature and each other through outdoor experiences. All outdoor experience levels welcome!

🥾 Hiking 101 with Sportsman's Warehouse
⏰ September 1 | 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Middleton-Mills Park Shelter House #2

🌱 Health & Wellness with NKY Health Department and LiveWell NKY
⏰ September 8 | 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Middleton-Mills Park Shelter House #2

There is no cost to participate but registration is requested at https://bit.ly/kcprcatalog.

08/26/2026

𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧: Kenton County Parks & Recreation and The City of Independence, Kentucky are joining forces for a night food, fun and music! Join us this evening for our final Wine Down Wednesday at the Historic Kenton County Courthouse in Independence.

Jonny Estep & Lonesome Blend will kick things off at 6:00 p.m. We can't wait to see you there!

08/26/2026

👻 Want to join in on a spook-tacular time? 👻
Kenton County Parks & Recreation needs volunteers to help set up and work the trail to help make it as spooktacular as possible. Ghosts, goblins, witches and creatures are requested to help frighten those attending!

Other areas where we need volunteers include:
· Setting up and working the event
· Directing traffic and parking
· Managing the haunters and sound effects on the trail
· Decorating the shelter house and setting up the graveyard
· Managing check-in

Sign up here:
🧟‍♀️ Haunted Trail: https://bit.ly/HauntedTrail2026

🎃 Boo Bash & Trail Trek: https://bit.ly/BooBashVolunteer2026

❓Questions? Contact Rhonda at [email protected]
Even if you’ve haunted the trail or volunteered in the past, we need you to confirm your participation. Teens 13+ can volunteer, but they must be accompanied by an adult.

08/26/2026

Some of the greatest things in life are worth the wait, and we believe the County's newest park is one of those things! We're officially 2.5 weeks out from kickstarting construction.

And while we know not having access to the trails at the park is disappointing for many, we encourage you to enjoy our neighboring trails at Lincoln Ridge Park while our partners at Prus Construction are at work.

Construction on Kenton County’s 225-acre marquee park will begin Sept. 14, transforming the former Fox Run Golf Course into a destination built for recreation, adventure and outdoor exploration. The park is anticipated to reopen in late summer 2028.

To safely make this transformation possible, the park will be 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 to the public throughout construction. While about 70% of the property will remain untouched, large-scale equipment and active work zones will be present across the site, making the full closure necessary to keep visitors and construction crews safe.

And there’s a lot to look forward to.

The park will be built around three natural ridges, each with its own focus:
🎣 The first ridge will focus on civic activities and feature an enlarged fishing pond, dog park, outdoor fitness area, destination playground and interactive water feature, shelters, restrooms, observation tower and opportunities to walk through the tree canopies.
🚲 The second ridge emphasizes the spirit of adventure, with a bike park that includes skills course, bike playground and pump track, climbing wall, nature play, shelters and restrooms and a planned Go Ape facility with elevated obstacles and treetop experiences.
🥾The final ridge focuses on exploration building on the park’s extensive trail network that will be developed to cater to hikers and mountain bikers, while accommodating a wide range of abilities.

We look forward to sharing even more soon!

08/25/2026

It’s time to reveal the answer to yesterday’s ! If you guessed squirrel, you got it right! 🐿️

Eastern Gray Squirrels are a common sight around our parks, but did you know they aren’t always gray? While less common, they can also have white, reddish or black fur, like the little guy pictured here.

Thanks for playing!

08/24/2026

Our Halloween Happenings Haunted Trail is now TWO nights! 👻

⏰ Friday, Oct. 16 & Saturday, Oct. 17 | Begins at 7:00 p.m.
📌 Middleton-Mills Park

Mark your calendar... if you dare! 🎃

08/24/2026

❓ It’s ! ❓

We have a mystery animal for you to guess! This little creature can often be spotted around our parks. Think you know what it is? Here are your clues:

1. Their front teeth never stop growing. They gnaw on hard materials to keep them short and sharp.
2. They play an important role in seed dispersing and forest regeneration by burying seeds and nuts.
3. When they spot a predator, like a hawk, they make a warning call to alert others nearby.

Think you know the answer? Share your guess in the comments!

08/21/2026

There's nothing like a relaxing morning of fishing at Middleton-Mills Park! 🎣

Did you know both ponds at Middleton-Mills Park are part of the Fishing in Neighborhoods (FINS) program? The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources stocks our ponds throughout the year with catfish, trout and more.

Remember, you must have a valid Kentucky fishing license to fish in any of Kentucky's public waters.

Visit https://bit.ly/KC-FINS to learn more about the FINS program.