Owensboro seeking public input on Dugan Best Park renovations

OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEHT) — Dugan Best Park in Owensboro has been around for 5 decades.
City officials say there are now plans to give the park new life.

Dugan Best Park is a city staple. Owensboro’s Parks and Recreations Superintendent says with 50 years under its belt its time to give the city park some tender loving care .

Officials say there are plans to resurface the tennis courts before next summer. It’s also an opportunity to take a look at how they can be repurposed, since they’re underused. The city is hoping the public can help guide their plan through feedback at a meeting on August 8.

“It a nice park. It really is. It’s not trash or dirty. If I see trash on the ground, I usually pick it up. Other than that, I think it’s more the center itself. That’s a big deal, especially with the employees,” says

“It’s a nice park. It really is. I mean, it’s not trashy, dirty. And if I see trash on the ground, I usually pick it up. But other than that, I think it’s more the center itself. That’s a big deal, especially with the employees, ” says Steven Bowlds, a local park user.

Andrea Johnson says she’s worked at the center for nearly 20 years and new ideas are always a good thing.

During that time she’s had the chance to work with the park director Mark Gray to assist with the redesign and implement bright colors.

“We’re going to be replacing the mural with different things…just different pictures of staff, doing activities with the kids, the community; They may see their face, they may see their grandchild’s face, their niece or nephew’s face,” says Johnson, Dugan Best Recreation Center’s Recreation Specialist.

Johnson says the goal is to have everyone from the community reflected in some way. She says she loved seeing herself reflected in the original mural.

“The picture behind me is my Uncle Tim Johnson. He worked at the recreational center for years. He dedicated a lot of his time to the youth…very solid man. He was very grounded to the community center,” says Johnson.

Other items on the to-do list at the moment include replacing equipment in the fitness room.

“They want more equipment so they don’t have to go out to different facilities. They can use their own recreational center that they grew up in,” says Johnson.

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