Historical Notes

Late 1800S – mid 1900s

• 1821-Jones Cabin (currently located at Yellow Creek Park) was constructed on Jones Road, just east of Yellow Creek Park by Jesse Jones, son of Revolutionary War Solider James Jones.
• 1876-Pleasant Grove School (currently located at Panther Creek Park) was located on KY HWY 56; behind what was to  be Pleasant Grove Baptist Church (Church constructed on ground originally donated by JP Crabtree)
• 1919-Rosenwald School (currently located at Yellow Creek Park) originally built on KY HWY 764 in Pleasant Ridge, KY.
• 1936- Rosenwald School closes / Students attending schools in rural communities in Daviess County were consolidated with African-American schools in the city of Owensboro.
• 1937- Pleasant Grove School closed upon completion of Sorgho Consolidated Elementary School
• 9/13/50- Riverside Estes subdivision established (currently located on KY HWY 144); lots 85 & 86 dedicated to Daviess County Fiscal Court for the use of a playground for new neighborhood residents. (Currently maintained as Redbud Park)

1970s

• 4/74- University of Kentucky College of Agriculture develops Thruston Community Park Plans, later to be known as Yellow Creek Park.
• 4/10/74- John Stone agrees to sell 59.77 acres of land behind the Thruston School, located on KY HWY 144, to Daviess County Fiscal Court for the total sum of $80,000. (Thruston Community Park – later to be known as Yellow Creek Park)
• 6/74- Developmental Cost Analysis of Thruston Community Park developed; grand total of $218,443.00
• 6/28/74 – Land Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant received for Yellow Creek Park development $110,083.42
• 5/21/76 – LWCF grant received for  Masonville Community Park $11,842.83
• 11/77- Little Hurricane Boat Ramp Completed
• 5/20/78 – Yellow Creek Park ribbon cutting for 60 acres of land purchased from the Bill Stone Estate. Funds from Bureau for Outdoor Recreation Grant and Daviess County Fiscal Court totaled $200,000.
• 8/16/79 – LWCF grants received for Burns Park $70,779.86; Utica Park $17,063.81

1980s

• 3/21/80 – LWCF grant received for Stanley Park $12,674.12
• 3/26/80 – LWCF grant received for West Louisville Park $10,218.99
• 6/30/80 – LWCF grant received for Yellow Creek Park $10,048.48; Knottsville Park $10,053.50
• 7/30/80 – LWCF grant received for Daviess County Parks – $25,547.49
• 2/6/81 – LWCF grant received for Yellow Creek Park – $48,366.13
• 4/15/81- Daviess County Park Board (DCPR) mulls future of Yellow Creek Park Lake. (M&I article)
• 1983 – DCPR won 1st place in “Parks and Recreation Programming” / “Certificate of Excellence in Parks and                   Recreation Facility Rehabilitation”
• 9/4/84- 24.57 acres added to Yellow Creek Park Nature Center for the amount of $55,000.
• 9/24/84 – LWCF grant received for Yellow Creek Nature Trail – $63,957.60
• 1984 – Yellow Creek Park received a “Certificate of Excellence Award”
• Spring 1985- Iron bridge installed at Yellow Creek Park across tributary of Yellow Creek
• 1985 – $30,456 National Park Service grant received – Yellow Creek Park Nature Center development / “Certificate of     Excellence in Parks and Recreation Programming” / 2nd place in “Parks and Recreation Facility Rehabilitation”
• 1986 – 2nd Place for “Parks and Recreation Facility Rehabilitation” / 1st Place “KRPS Outstanding Department”
• 1987 – “Frog Pond” constructed in Yellow Creek Park Nature Area
• 4/3/87- 26.419 acres added to Yellow Creek Park Nature Center for $55,000.
• 6/17/87 – LWCF grant received for Yellow Creek Park Addition – $24,549.50
• 12/17/87- LWCF pre-application submitted for West Park project (to be eventually named Panther Creek Park) for           property acquisition $60,000.
• 3/31/88 – DCFC approved Park for west Daviess County, Panther Creek Park is born
• 4/21/88- DCFC selected to receive LWCF Grant in the amount of $45,000
• 4/22/88- Deed recorded for West Park Project for the sum of $215,000 containing 108.56 acres
• 5/1/88- Dr. Alton Little (WKU) was requested for assistance with layout and design proposal for West Park project.
• 6/9/88- Kentucky Heritage Council reports that West Park property is not eligible for listing in the National Registry of       Historic Places.
• 8/23/88 – LWCF grant funds received for new Panther Creek Park – $46,989.93
• 10/88 – Yellow Creek Park receives 70 foot fire tower from Indian Hill Rd. in Hancock County
• 11/29/88- US Senator Wendell Ford has contacted CSX transportation officials to help locate used railroad tracks for       elevated West Park trails
• 12/7/88- DCFC formally names West Park Project, “Panther Creek Park”. Motion by Commissioner Ebelhar and second by Commissioner Warren and all concurred out of 54 possible names.
• 12/14/88-LWCF pre-application submitted for Panther Creek Park phase 2 for the amount of $40,000. This includes the   walking trail, parking lots, and five acre lake.
• 1988 – Yellow Creek Park finalizes two covered bridges and completed last section of nature center trail
• 1/12/89- Brandstetter-Carroll Inc. submits site design plan for Panther Creek Park totaling $2,615,900.
• 1/25/89 – CSX donated used rails, valued at $24,000, for elevated trails at PCP
• 4/1/89 – Debbie Zielinski introduces park’s “Safety Squirrel” mascot
• 4/28/89- Col. Algernon S. Thruston historical marker dedicated, Thruston, KY (KY HWY 144)
• 6/19/89- Parks Department formally request from ASA national office latest publications on current specifications for       softball fields at Panther Creek Park
• 8/89 – Yellow Creek Park hosted Daviess County Babe Ruth All Stars, Little League Area All Star and ASA 19 and           under girls state finals as well as the ASA Midwest Regional Games
• 1989 – Tourist Commission gives DCFC $50,000 for construction of new Panther Creek Park

1990s

• 3/5/90 – Panther Creek Park receives the Governor’s “Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation Rehabilitation”
• 6/11/90- Baxter-Martin, PSC recommends construction of a wetland sewage treatment system for Panther Creek Park.
• 3/91 – Water sewage treatment plan for Panther Creek Park is approved by the state Cabinet for Human Resources,       Division of Local Health
• 2/13/92 – DCPR receives the 1st place award for “Excellence in Parks for Handicapped Accessibility” Category for           Panther Creek Park Nature Trails
• April 20, 1992 – Panther Creek Park Ribbon Cutting, 10:30 AM (agenda on file)
• 6/19/92 – LWCF grants received for Panther Creek Park – $23,000.00
• 4/10/1992 – Panther Creek Park Elevated Trails received the “Enjoy Outdoors America” Award, from the US Department of the Interior, first trail in America to receive this award
• Summer 1992 – Relocation of the Rosenwald School to Yellow Creek Park using funds from the Bicentennial Grant
• 10/92 – Panther Creek Park has donated fire tower set up, tower came from Cloverport, KY
• 12/92 – Bridge over Clear Creek at Panther Creek Park was installed (the bridge was originally located on Windy Hill       Road)
• 12/27/92 – 83 year old Rosenwald School at Yellow Creek Park officially dedicated (the building was obtained from         Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church and moved to the park)
• 6/21/93- Fiscal Court purchases Stanley School property on US HWY 60 for the amount of $79,000.
• 8/93 – Trail of Trees at Panther Creek Park established
• 9/93 – Covered walking bridge at Panther Creek Park complete
• 1993 – Panther Creek Park trails wins award for accessibility – 1st Place Gov. “Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation” for making the park accessible to the handicapped
• 1993 Foundations poured for Whispering Wind and Feather Landing shelters at Panther Creek Park by Carey Leonard
• 1994 – Yellow Creek Park parking lot built on top of dam at lake
• January 94 – Light poles at Panther Creek Park erected for ball diamonds
• March 1994 Director Debbie Zielinski receives the Outstanding Leadership in the Leisure Professions from KRPS
• May 1994 A.L. “Bert” Powell and Joyce Porter conduct bird hikes at Yellow Creek Park
• 5/12/94 – Lake at Panther Creek Park opens officially to the public
• 5/14/94 – Solar-powered fountain celebrates formal starting
• Summer 94 – Whispering Wind and Feather Landing Shelters at Panther Creek Park are completed, 2 concrete bridges were set in place across lake
• July 1994 Tonya Robinson finished the stone entrance into Panther Creek Park
• August 1994, two concrete bridges over lake at Panther Creek Park installed
• May 1995, Bill Sterett Jr. donates 1000 feet of one inch steel cable to use in construction of the new swinging bridge in Panther Creek Park
• 11/25/95- Ribbon cutting celebration “Swinger” swinging bridge at Panther Creek Park @ 11:30am.
• 1995 – Cabooses are moved to parks
• 2/95 – Fishing dock at Yellow Creek Park constructed
• 5/95 – Barn at Yellow Creek Park destroyed by fire (nature center area)
• 9/95 – Work to begin on soccer fields at Panther Creek Park South
• 10/95 – Park’s received a matching grant from the Kentucky African American Heritage Commissioner for Rosenwald School at Yellow Creek Park
• 10/25/95 – DCFC cuts ribbon on “Swinger” bridge complete with two water fountains made of creek stone (Panther Creek Park)
• 7/96 – Rosenwald School at Yellow Creek Park restoration complete, Joyce Edwards and Sue Haycraft officially opened the school.  Mr. Tom Rosenwald, a descendent of the original donor of the building, attended the opening.
• 9/96 – Panther Creek Park becomes home to a one room school house originally built in 1876 known as “Pleasant Grove School”. Restoration work cost $40,384.00
• 10/96 – Fire tower caged in for safety at Panther Creek Park
• 10/27/96 – Open house was hosted at Yellow Creek Park for Rosenwald School
• 1997 – KY Heritage Land Conservation Grant was received for purchase of additional acreage at Yellow Creek Park       Nature Center
• 4/98 – Yellow Creek Park obtains from CSX “Pullman Troop Sleeper” used in WWII to transport troops
• 8/1/98 – Panther Creek Park South ribbon cutting to formally open 5 new walking trails.
• 8/98 – Parks announces $10,000 National Recreation Trails Fund grant for elevated trails in Panther Creek Park South
• 10/18/98 – Pleasant Grove School officially opens at Panther Creek Park with more than 100 former students in attendance (project coordinator Carrie Kuegel)
• March 1999 – 18-hole disc golf opens at Yellow Creek Park
• 8/14/99 – Recreational Trails Program grant received, $20,000 PCP to connect existing trails in the park
• 1999 – Commissioner Lambert began lobbying for a long range master plan (completed in 2001)

2000 – Present

• 2000 – Commissioner Jim Lambert helped to establish a “full time salary structure” for all county employees
• 5/2000 – Thruston School located at the front of Yellow Creek Park fully demolished
• July 20, 2000 – Pullman Trooper Sleeper car at Yellow Creek Park dedicated; Boy Scout Martin Millay nearing completion of the his Eagle Scout project at Yellow Creek Park.  The project includes the new Pocahontas Trail.
• July 2000 – Butterfly Gazebo completed
• 11/7/00 – Ribbon cutting for the 208’ suspension bridge at Panther Creek Park over Panther Creek “Debbie’s Dream Catcher”
• 2001 – Metal Halide lights at Yellow Creek Park tennis courts installed
• 2001 – Commissioner Mike Riney established “Community Playground Assistance” fund of $1500 per playground
• 3/28/01 – Pioneer Village at Yellow Creek Park begins with two cabins being donated to Fiscal Court.
• 4/23/01 – Resolution 4-2001; Fiscal Court establishes Log Cabin restoration program.
• 5/01- Observation deck at Yellow Creek Park Frog Pond built and dedicated
• 7/01 – Commissioner Lambert initiated board action on Green belt connector trail through Lake Forest Subdivision and the development of a new 150 acre park in the county’s central division
• 8/28/01 – Log Barn in Pioneer Village at Yellow Creek Park under construction
• 9/27/01 – Log Cabin Construction LLC paid $16,850.00 for log barn construction. (Built around 1870 by Samuel Davis)
• 10/25/01 –  “Family Fright Nights” at Panther Creek Park, inaugural year, hay rides, story telling and haunted trails.  $2 per adult and $1 per child
• 2001 – Completed joint City/County Parks 10 year Master Plan
• October 2001 – Inaugural “Family Fright Night” at Panther Creek Park – 1000 visitors attended
• 12/06/01- Log Cabin construction LLC paid $16,897.00 for small cabin construction.
• 12/01 – First log cabin AND log barn are complete in Pioneer Village
• 12/2001 – Boy Scout Brian Tanner, Troop 611, competed the 5-mile Compass trail in Yellow Creek Park as a requirement to become an Eagle Scout
• 1/02 – Commissioner Lambert initiates conversation regarding a Christmas lights program at Panther Creek Park
• April 30, 2002 Shirley Howard retires as a member of the park’s personnel
• July 2002, RWRA installs sewer lines through Yellow Creek Park
• 7/15/2002 Ross Leigh hired as new Marketing and Program Director for Daviess County Parks and Recreation
• August 2002 – Janie Carrico / Linda Epling hired to replace Shirley Howard who recently retired, both employees only work part time
• 8/27/02- DCFC receives Potts family cabin from Richard and Joyce Edwards of 1125 Griffith Ave. (Cabin originally located on Settles Rd.)
• 8/28/02 – LWCF grant received for Yellow Creek Park – $61,950.00
• October 16-18, 2002 Inaugural “Pioneer Village Open House”, Yellow Creek Park
• October 25-26, 2002 Family Fright Nights, Panther Creek Park
• 2002 –Yellow Creek Park Spray Park installed / Small Gazebo donated at Panther Creek Park / Fishing dock constructed at Panther Creek Park
• 1/7/03 – Yellow Creek Park expanded to 152.5 acres by purchasing 33 acre tract (where ROMP is hosted); $128,000
• April 2003 Inaugural event at Yellow Creek Park; “The Battle of Sutherland’s Hill” Civil War reenactment
• May 2003 – local resident Steven Carraway conducts his internship as a student at Murray State University
• 5/15/03 – Received approval from Fiscal Court to install two transformers at Panther Creek Park for the Christmas at Panther Creek Light show
• July 3, 2003 Inaugural car show at Yellow Creek Park, Tri-State Thunderbird Classic Car Cruise-In
• 7/3/03 – First Fireworks Show at Panther Creek Park, “Family Freedom Fireworks Festival”
• 7/15/03 – Kuegel Corner property acquired at Panther Creek Park – 15.588 acres (Kuegel family money was not used for this acquisition – future family contributions allowed for naming of property)
• 8/1/2003 – Spray Park at Yellow Creek Park opens, ribbon cutting was hosted on July 31, 2003 at 2:00 pm
• 10/15/03 – Horse Fork Creek Park property purchased (62 acres)
• 10/18/03 – Ross Leigh named Director of Daviess County Parks and Recreation, Debbie Zielinski retires as Park Director after 27 years
• Fall 2003 – Lisa Adams names as Assistant Director of Daviess County Parks and Recreation
• 10/24 and 25/2003 – Family Fright Night – Panther Creek Park
• 11/28/03 – First “Christmas at Panther Creek” begins
• 12/31/2003 – Joe Ford retires as Park’s Naturalist
• 2003 – Small Gazebo donated at Panther Creek Park by Sharon Crowe in memory of Joseph Leonard Peak
• 2004 – Daviess County Operations Center Opens – housing new Parks and Recreation administrative offices
• August 20, 2006 – Eagle Scout Steven Liles (17), senior at Owensboro High School, Fire pit installation at Jim Lambert Pioneer Village at Yellow Creek Park
• November 28, 2006 ROMP wins KRPS Dorothy Mullen Award
• Fall 2007 – Horse Fork Creek Park dedicated
• August 15, 2008 – Krystal Phelps starts Daviess County Fall Fast-Pitch League at Yellow Creek Park and Masonville Playground
• 2009 -2010 16 acre James E. Kuegel Corner at Panther Creek Park developed
• 1/12/09 – Blackford Creek Park area (77.685 acres acquired) off Chestnut Grove Road and Kelly Cemetery Road
• 9/6/11 – 3002 Fairview Drive (Thompson Warehouse) purchased ($125,000)
• 10/14 – Hurricane Island property purchased by DCFC (20.87 acres)
• June 2016 – Iron bridge over Clear Creek at Panther Creek Park replaced with modern concrete structure
• June 2016 – Covered bridge at Yellow Creek Park replaced with concrete structure (located closest to Reid Road)
• December 2016 – divider installed into James E. Kuegel shelter at Panther Creek Park to create Kuegel North and Kuegel South
• Winter 2017 – ball diamond lights installed at Panther Creek Park on field 3
• Fall/Winter 2018 – ball diamond lights installed at Panther Creek Park on fields 1 and 2
• Winter 2019 – Engineering study began with AEI Engineers to determine the fate of the iron bridge at Yellow Creek Park, study results expected in late summer 2019
• May 2019 – Land and Water Conservation Fund grant application submitted for new playground at Horse Fork Creek Park
• June 1, 2019 – Horse Fork Creek Park Spray Park ribbon cutting
• June 1, 2019 – 198 year old Jones Cabin (constructed by Jesse Jones), Jim Lambert Pioneer Village – Yellow Creek Park, dedicated with Ruth Baskett Harrison in attendance (92 years young; great-great-great granddaughter of James Jones – Revolutionary War Soldier who lived with his son Jesse before dying at the age of 91 in 1851)
• June 26 – 29, 2019 – 16th Annual ROMP Festival hosted at Yellow Creek Park (15th year at Yellow Creek Park)
• September 28, 2019 – Tri-State Pickle Fest, Yellow Creek Park, Owensboro Pickleball Association
• Friday, October 4, 2019 – Ribbon cutting at Daviess County Gun Club, offering trap and sporting clays
• Monday, November 4th, Yellow Creek Park – original 18 baskets of the disc golf course are replaced
• Winter 2019 – new ball diamond fences are installed at Panther Creek Park on fields 1,2 & 3
• “Christmas at Panther Creek – 2019” raised fees per vehicle to $5; collected $20,840
• June 2020 ROMP cancelled due to COVID-19
• Late fall 2020 – entrance/exit to Panther Creek Park re-asphalted
• Late winter 2020 – HFCP 20’x20′ shade canopies installed
• 2019 picnic shelter reservations – 823 reservations serving 26,365 patrons
• October 2020 – Administrative offices relocate to the Schertzinger Building, 221 Allen Street, in downtown Owensboro, KY
• Fall 2020 – All 18 disc golf baskets at Panther Creek Park South replaced for the first time
• December 2020 – Christmas at Panther Creek collects $49,308.01 over 5 weeks
• March 29, 2021 – Yellow Creek Park 1892 iron truss bridge has new concrete deck poured (should open by end of April 2021 to public)
• Due to COVID restrictions picnic shelter reservations will not being for 2021 until May 1st
• March 2021 – ROMP event at Yellow Creek Park announced for September 2021 due to COVID restriction (usually hosted in late June each year)
• April 12, 2021 LWCF playground construction started at HFCP complete with pour in play rubber surfacing
• April 26, 2021 – Re-dedicated the Iron Bridge after renovations are complete.  New concrete bridge floor was installed inside of existing, original, iron truss.
• First KYSCA shoot “Spring Classic” hosted at the Daviess County Gun Club, May 22 – 23, 2021…  80 shooters participated
• Thursday, June 3rd, ribbon cutting on new “all-inclusive” playground at HFCP… funded by Land and Water Conservation Fund
• Saturday, July 17th Vette’ Lovers Annual Car Show, Yellow Creek Park 110 cars participated
• August 21 – 22 Dove Warm Up weekend at Daviess County Gun Club….  161 rounds of sporting clays shot over the event
• October 2021 – fire tower removed from Panther Creek Park due to public safety concerns
• November 2021 – elevated trails at Panther Creek Park rehab begins, “Sycamore Hill” section from the central gazebo south to Panther Creek Park Drive
• June 2022 – Yellow Creek Park and Stanley Park tennis courts converted to pickleball courts
• July 2022 – Panther Creek Park 6 new scoreboards installed
• December 3, 2022 – “Lambert Pioneer Christmas” inaugural event; Jim Lambert Pioneer Village, Yellow Creek Park
• December 15, 2022 – Daviess County Fiscal Court renames the “Daviess County Gun Club” to the “Mattingly Target Shooting Range at Pup Creek Park” after retiring J/E Al Mattingly
• January 2023 – Commissioner Larry Conder is named park’s liaison for Daviess County Fiscal Court replacing Commissioner George Wathen
• January 2, 2023 – “Christmas at Panther Creek” ends with a total of $27,523.56 collected, which was down 12% over total collected in 2022
• January 2023 – “Tall Timbers” section of the elevated trails from the central gazebo towards the caboose is rehabilitated
• January 2023 – Fields 4, 5 and 6 LED lights installed (Norman King Electric, contractor)
• Daviess County Youth Soccer Association at Horse Fork Creek Park registered 1,284 players for the spring 2023 season
• April 1, Mattingly Target Shooting Range submitted application for the August 2024 Kentucky Sporting Clays Association State Championship
• June 2023, – large parking lot at Horse Fork Creek Park paved for first time since park opened in 2007
• Take a Kid Fishing was hosted at Panther Creek Park, June 3, 2023; 84 youth participants
• March – July 2023 – Daviess County Playground Association registered 118 teams for the season (73 teams in East Daviess County) (45 teams in West Daviess County)
• July 2023 – Jenni Warren named Events Coordinator
• December 7, 2023 – Park’s leadership reorganized: Director Jordan Rowe, Recreation Outreach Ross Leigh, Parks Buildings and Ground Maintenance Jerry Ambs, Parks Administrator Kelly Wathen