LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — McHargue’s Mill, the duck pond, the swimming pool, a cemetery and site of McNitt’s Defeat, the wooded trails, a clubhouse, playgrounds, putt-putt golf course, picnic shelters, amphitheater, campground, and museum.

All these sites are part of Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park, which was established in 1931.

But imagine how $100,000 would help enhance the current offerings at the popular site for various reunions, weddings, meetings, family picnics, birthdays and other community events.

That could happen if residents and users of the south London park will cast their votes in a contest sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Parks.

The third annual “America is Your Park” contest gives people a chance to vote for their favorite park, an event sponsored by Coca-Cola. The Kentucky state park receiving the most votes will receive $100,000. Those placing second and third place will get $50,000 and $25,000, respectively. The voting ends July 15.

“The funds will be used for recreational means,” said Carol Kirby, acting park manager. “We could use the money to increase activities here at the park and we would appreciate everyone’s vote.”

Voting can be done online by visiting www.livepositively.com/parks. Voting can also be done by checking in while you are actually using the park.

“For those in the park — either camping, walking, or visiting — voting can be done every 15 minutes through a Smart Phone by using the ‘four square’ app,” Kirby said. “The key is that every vote from the website or from a Smart Phone outside the park counts as one vote, but the ones through the four-square app gets 100 votes for every click.”

“The contest has been held the last couple of years, but we’ve never asked for help from the public,” Kirby added. “This year, we wanted to get everyone who has enjoyed our park (Levi Jackson) to participate and vote.”

The Kentucky State Park System is made up of 50 different facilities, from resort, recreation and historic parks throughout the state, plus The Breaks Interstate Park which is shared between Kentucky and Virginia. The Department of Parks is a division of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and operates 17 resort parks with lodges — more than any other state.

For more information about the offerings at Kentucky state parks, visit their website at http://www.parks.ky.gov.

“And don’t forget to vote!” Kirby said.



njohnson@sentinel-echo.com