Officials with the Kentucky State Fair Board met this week with members of Jefferson County's state legislative delegation to update them on the planned refurbishment and re-opening of the Kentucky Kingdom amusement park. The park closed this year as part of a bankruptcy filed by the Six Flags company.The fair board, which owns the property, has an agreement with businessman Ed Hart to re-open and operate the park, but is asking lawmakers for a $50 million bond issue to help implement its redevelopment plan.Hart says the Jefferson County delegation seems receptive to the idea."(Fair Board President) Harold Workman made the case, and I think very successfully, and I think it was well received. This is more than just affordable entertainment for families, local families and out of state familes. More importantly, this is an economic engine at a time that we need jobs, Kentucky Kingdom will create up to two thousand jobs," he said.Hart says if all goes as planned, Kentucky Kingdom could re-open in 2012.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.
