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4 turf baseball and softball fields in a cloverleaf design.
Local youth leagues will use the facility during the week, while travel ball tournaments are scheduled for weekends. Mitchell said tournaments are expected to draw approximately 2,000 visitors per weekend, generating economic activity for local restaurants, hotels, and retailers.
The park includes 18 fullhookup RV sites, a 1.5-mile walking trail, and 8 outdoor workout stations provided through a partnership with Appalachian Regional Healthcare. Even before
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final trail surfacing was complete, residents began using the facility. Mitchell said the park represents both an economic development tool and a quality-of-life investment aimed at retaining young families.
Economic expansion efforts extend beyond recreation. The county has acquired 1,500 acres for a new industrial park using KPDI funding from the Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet. Infrastructure improvements, including sanitary sewer and natural gas extensions, are being
Advantage Realty
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pursued to prepare the site for development.
Located approximately nine miles from Interstate 75 along the U. S. 25E corridor, the property offers proximity to major transportation routes, lower energy costs and abundant water resources. A newly formed Industrial Authority is overseeing development efforts in coordination with state partners and Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College to support workforce training.
Utility expansion has also remained a priority. In the Sinking Creek area, several million dollars have been invested in waterline expansion— a project Mitchell described as especially meaningful.
Residents there had been promised municipal water service for more than 35 years. With the latest expansion, approximately 97 % of Knox County residents now have access to municipal water, with a long-term goal of full availability.
Additional grant funding has supported improvements for Knox County Utility Commission, Barbourville Utilities, and Corbin City Utilities.
Road improvements continue alongside those projects. The county constructed a new road department facility on 15 acres, replacing its former site of less than one acre.
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Investments in equipment have strengthened operations, including expanded snow removal capabilities that allow major county roads to be covered on a six-hour rotation.
Knox County maintains approximately 528 miles of roadway, and more than 40 miles of gravel roads have been converted to hard surface in recent years. Rising material costs— asphalt now averaging about $ 112 per ton, Mitchell said— remain an ongoing challenge.
The county also operates litter abatement crews on a rotating schedule and offers free dumpster services in the spring and fall.
As for the county’ s biggest challenge moving forward, Mitchell pointed to the importance of continued investment and community confidence.
“ You’ ve got to believe and invest in yourself,” he said.“ If you don’ t believe and invest in yourself, you’ re not going to have productivity going forward.”
Looking ahead, Mitchell said infrastructure expansion, industrial recruitment, and exploratory housing partnerships through public-private collaboration will remain central to Knox County’ s long-term strategy.
“ We’ ve got a lot of good projects going on,” he said.“ The future is bright.”
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