Kenton County's new park comes closer to life

This article originally appeared in the August 2026 edition of What's Happening. You can access the full edition here.

Big things are coming to the City of Independence as Kenton County moves closer to breaking ground on its highly anticipated new park later this year — 225-acres designed to bring adventure, recreation and outdoor experiences together in a way Kenton County has never seen before.

Located on the former Fox Run Golf Course, the future park is being transformed into a one-of-a-kind community space built around the property’s three distinct ridges: civic space, adventure space and trails. County leaders say each ridge will offer its own unique experience while working together to create a park destination for all ages.

“This project has always been about creating something completely different from anything else in our region,” said Kenton County Judge/ Executive Kris Knochelmann. “We want this park to become a place where families can spend an entire day exploring, playing and making memories.”

Preserving Greenspace

While the park will feature new amenities and gathering spaces, preserving the property’s natural beauty remains at the heart of the project. County leaders anticipate approximately 70% of the park will remain untouched by construction, ensuring large sections of the land continue to serve as protected greenspace where residents can experience nature in its purest form while exploring everything the park has to offer.

Spaces to Gather & Play

The civic ridge will serve as the park’s central gathering area and will feature a wide range of family-friendly amenities. Plans include improvements to the existing fishing “We want this park to become a place where families can spend an entire day exploring, playing and making memories.” pond, a dog park, outdoor fitness zone, –Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann playground equipment, shelter house and interactive water features similar to a splash pad.

New Adventures

For thrill seekers and outdoor adventurers, the park’s adventure ridge is expected to become a major attraction. Current plans include mountain bike trails, a pump track, climbing wall and a Go Ape facility, along with additional climbing structures and active recreation opportunities.

Go Ape, an internationally known outdoor adventure company, specializes in elevated obstacle courses, zip lines and treetop experiences that encourage visitors to climb, swing and explore the outdoors in new ways. The addition of a Go Ape attraction would make the park one of only a select number of locations across the country to offer the experience.

Untouched Beauty to Explore

The park’s final and largest ridge will focus on trail access and exploration. Visitors will be able to park and connect to an expansive trail network winding throughout the property. Along the way, interactive art installations will help bring the trails to life, blending nature, creativity and discovery into the outdoor experience.

Several firms are helping bring the vision to life. J.S. Held is serving as the owner’s representative, Bayer Becker is leading design efforts and Prus Construction joined the project team in April to oversee construction.

County leaders say the goal is not simply to create another park, but to encourage outdoor activity and give residents a place to gather for generations to come.

Once known for tee times and fairways, the former Fox Run property is now preparing for a new chapter filled with trails, climbing adventures, splash zones and endless opportunities to explore.

To learn more about the new County park, visit our website - linked here.