Florence Kentucky Online

Picture of the Day: Orleans Park

Today's Picture of the Day is Orleans Park in Florence Kentucky. Orleans Park is one of the many great parks maintained by the City of Florence. Orleans Park is in the Orleans North subdivision, down Longbranch Road and located on St. Louis Blvd.

Here is information on Orleans Park form the City of Florence website:

Acquired in 2002, the 9.5 acres for the park was donated by Fischer Development and the City purchased an adjoining 1.5 acres to make this active park 11 acres. Located in the Orleans North subdivision the neighborhood park now contains a parking lot, playground, bridge, sled hill, restroom, shelter, grill, drinking fountains, basketball court, athletic field, paved trail, and sled hill. The Park's Master Plan recommends development of a sand volleyball court, tennis courts, gazebo and fishing pier.

Today's Boone County News:

Boone County stars big part of SCC's title team

Senior picnic tickets on sale Aug. 3rd

Daniel Boone performance

Boone County Alumni give scholarships

Enjoying Camp Ernst

McEvoy named Rotary governor

Otters hold off Florence Freedom

Florence Ky Online welcomes a new sponsor:

Florence Ky Online wants to welcome a new sponsor to the site, Affordable Car Care on Burlington Pike in Florence. For more information on Affordable Car Care, visit our Florence Businesses page.

Picture of the Day: Florence/Boone County Skate Park

Today's Picture of the Day is the Florence/Boone County Skate Park located on the campus of the Florence Government Center, just off Rt. 18 in Florence. The Florence/Boone County Skate Park is a 20,000 sq. ft. park designed for in-line skates, roller blades and skateboards. The Florence/Boone County Skate Park features beginner, intermediate and advanced areas with various challenging elements. Included are a shelter, spectator area, emergency telephone and parking lot. There is no fee to enter. The Florence/Boone County Skate Park is open from dawn to dusk. Safety equipment is recommended. You can find more information about the Florence/Boone County Skate Park here.

Today's Boone County News:

Hebron Mom pens novel

Union intersection to get traffic lights

Walton-Verona grad to run for MSJ

Smooth sailing for split schools

Peregrine falcon nest found in Boone County

Florence Freedom win on Father's Day

Picture of the Day: Stringtown Park

Today's Picture of the Day is Stringtown Park on Route 18 in Florence. Stringtown Park is another of the many great parks in the City of Florence. The park is located between Wallace and Kathryn Avenues. The property for Stringtown Park was purchased in 2001. It is the newest neighborhood park in Florence. The park features two play structures, a climbing apparatus, swing set, basketball court, sand volleyball court, corn hole sets, shelter, grill, seat wall, paved walking trail, benches, restroom facility, drinking fountains, open green space and parking lot. The park also features a shelter that can be rented for special events.

You can find out more information on Stringtown Park and all of the great parks in the City of Florence here.

Today's Boone County News:

Florence budget approved

Plan calls for trails throughout Boone

Couple earn volunteer award

Relay for Life set for June 26

Freedom split doubleheader

Picture of the Day: South Fork Park

Today's Picture of the Day is the South Fork Park in Florence. South Fork Park is located off of Farmview Road in the Farmview subdivision. The park is nestled down a hill in a small pocket of nature right behind the residential area. South Fork Park is one of the many great parks that the City of Florence maintains for the community.

The park features a playground for the kids with swings, ride-ons, and a nautical themed climbing and sliding area. There is also a picnic shelter next to the playground that can be reserved for family get-togethers or used to escape the summer sun while at the park. There is also a concrete basketball court and a sand volleyball court at the park. The park also features wooded walking and biking trails. You can find more information on South Fork Park here.

Today's Boone County News:

DHL to assist with new road

Ceremony honors injured Marine

Freedom have second homestand

Caterna first Cooper State Champ

Amazing Grace Lutheran Vacation Bible School

Boone gets grant to buy land

Freedom pound River City

Freedom looking to improve under new management

Picture of the Day: Big Bone Lick State Park

Today's Picture of the Day is the Big Bone Lick State Park. The Big Bone Lick State Park is a Boone County treasure located just a few miles away from Florence. The park is located on a site where mammoths, mastadons, ground sloths and bison once lived. The park is known as the Birthplace of American Verterbrate Paleontology. The park has a  herd of of bison that live on the park grounds, giving visitors a look at the area's natural residents from the past. The area was also visited by the famous Lewis and Clark in 1803.

The park features a campground, fishing lake, hiking trails, playgrounds, museum and discovery trail, tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts. You can find more information about Big Bone Lick State Park here and here.

Today's Boone County News:

Conner's Robinson named LaRosa's MVP

Film honors late principal

School news from around Boone County

Runner's students share her experience

Erpenbeck's Crane Project for Japan

Freedom sees itself as a value play

Library promotes reading among children

Walton-Verona announces new football coach

Freedom pound out 20 hits in win

Picture of the Day: Boone County Arboretum

Today's Picture of the Day is the entrance to Central Park and the Boone County Arboretum off of Camp Ernst Road. The Arboretum just celebrated its 10th Anniversary. Here is the description of the Arboretum from their official website:

In May of 1994, Boone County dedicated a new baseball and soccer complex called Central Park. The facility included a 2.2 mile walking / biking trail that went through the woods and wound around all the ball fields. During a long range planning session in 1996, the Boone County Horticultural Advisory Council and UK Cooperative Extension Agents saw the need to document and preserve Boone County's natural resources. They also saw a need to create a place dedicated to growing and studying the trees and shrubs of landscape horticulture. This needed to be a place that could be enjoyed by schools, community groups, garden clubs, as well as private citizens as they found out which landscape trees and shrubs grow well in our local climate.

 A unique partnership was created between the Boone County government and the Boone County Cooperative Extension District to form the nation's first arboretum within an active recreation setting. Mr. Richard Ammon of Ammon Landscape drew the planting design, and seven local nurseries came together with hundreds of volunteers to bring the vision into reality.

Boone County Arboretum was dedicated in May of 1999, and it continues to grow today. Plant maintenance was originally contracted out to a local landscape company, but we now have a staff of six people dedicated to the Arboretum. Our volunteer group, Friends of Boone County Arboretum, continues to grow in both membership and activity within the Arboretum. We currently have over 1100 trees and over 1700 shrubs, all mapped with global positioning technology. Children can walk from the playground directly into the Children's Garden and be immersed in a very colorful, hands-on experience with kid-friendly plants. On another side of the playground, they can find their way out of an ornamental grass maze. Our 3 acre native Kentucky grassland grows thicker each year. Excitement also grows each year as the Arboretum becomes a treasured asset in our community.

Today's Boone County News:

Cooper student helps with garden

Cooper Equestrian Team takes fifth at Nationals

Conner baseballer signs with Cumberlands

RC Durr YMCA names Andy Dischar Volunteer of the Year

Boone scores tech grant

Conner hosts band concert

Freedom enjoying new turf

Johnson's home to play

Picture of the Day: Camp Ernst Park

Today's Picture of the Day is the lake at the Camp Ernst Park in Boone County. The park and lake are located a few miles down Camp Ernst Road from Rt. 18. The lake and park are a popular place for local fisherman to spend a relaxing day by the lake. It is also a popular stop for families to picnic, walk and see the many ducks and geese who populate the area.

The lake is located adjacent to the property of the YMCA's Camp Ernst. The camp has been a popular summer stop for kids for many decades. The official website of Camp Ernst describes the camp like this:

YMCA Camp Ernst is just a 25-minute drive from downtown Cincinnati. 75 percent of its counselors were once campers like you at Camp Ernst. Come check out our 365 scenic acres of hardwood forests, playing fields, a horse barn and trails, and a 26-acre spring-fed lake.

Coming Summer 2009, Camp Ernst's newest lake edition, the Blob plus a bonus Water Trampoline!

Camp’s two creeks, two swimming pools, Zip Line, Giant Swing, Climbing Wall, Burma Bridge, and Air Walk ensure that every day is full of exciting activities.

Archery, BB ranges, and a dynamic Fine Arts program round out the daily adventure opportunities at Greater Cincinnati’s most popular camp. 

The Ky Post website has a great article to read that tells the story of Camp Ernst and its history.

Looking back at 50 years of camping

Today's Boone County News:

YMCA Camp Ernst and RC Durr YMCA raised money for kids to go to camp in EveryONE deserves a Y campaign

Ryle students are National Merit Scholars

Stephens Elementary PTA Yard Sale and Craft Bazaar

Scrapbooking crop fundraiser for BCHS Forensics Team

Outing supports Special Olympics

Chatter keeps Rebels loose

Free child seat inspection comes to Burlington

Picture of the Day: Boone County Fairgrounds

Today's Picture of the Day takes us one more time through the Burlington area to the Boone County Fairgrounds. Each year in early August this area becomes the center of life in the county as the Boone County Fair gets underway. The fair is a tradition like no other in Boone County. The fair is a celebration of the agricultural and farming roots of the area and is a great place for residents to gather each summer to get reacquainted and have a good time.

The fair is famous for the great food you can sample and the fun carnival rides for the younger generation. Some of the more famous events at the fair are the Tractor Pull, Miss Boone County Pageant, Little Miss and Mr. Boone County, the Girls and Boys baby shows, livestock and horticultural shows, and the famous Pig Scramble. You didn't really grow up in Boone County if you didn't participate in catching the greased pig as a child!

It won't be long before the people of Boone County gather at the Fairgrounds once more and celebrate the rich history of the county and all the things that make Boone County what it is.

Picture of the Day: Boone Woods Park

Today's picture of the day is from Boone Woods Park. In this image you see the old fort that is located at the back of the park. I'm sure many of you have special memories from your childhood running around and going inside the old fort. It was one of those really fun places to go if you were a kid growing up in Boone County.

The park has basketball, volleyball and tennis courts on the grounds. There is also a soccer field, two playgrounds and three picnic shelters in the park. The park also features an 18 hole disc golf course, bocce ball courts and horseshoe pits.

The entrance to Boone Woods Park has undergone major changes over the years. The area where the old baseball field used to be located out by Rt. 18. is now the location of the RC Durr YMCA. Across the street from the YMCA is the campus of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.

For more information on Boone Woods Park, visit the Boone County Parks and Recreation site.

Today's Boone County News:

Bearcats make full use of new track

Karate tournament invites competitors, spectators

UK's Meeks eyes NBA Draft

Florence senior care center taking shape

Picture of the Day: Pete's Park Burlington

As Winter rears its ugly head one last time on us today and tomorrow, let's look back at the beautiful spring weather of the past weekend. Today's Picture of the Day shows a few young girls enjoying an Easter Egg hunt hosted by the Burlington Baptist Church on Saturday at Pete's Park on Nicholas Street in Burlington. It was a perfect day for the kids to get outside and search for some Easter surprises.

Pete's Park is a small hidden treasure in downtown Burlington. The park is named after the former owner of Burlington Hardware. The park is just across the street from Burlington Baptist Church, just behind the Slater Music Academy house.

Let's hope we have a quick return to this great weather for the Easter Weekend ahead!

Today's Boone County News:

Boone County School briefs

Panel rejects Hebron retail changes

State showing CATS the door

Opening Day gray for baseball

Cooper nets first ever tennis win

Comics 2 Games benefit auction on E-bay