On the outskirts of Henderson County, Ky., is the small town of Hebbardsville. With a history steeped in coal mining dating to the early 1800s, it is quite fitting that an old coal mine would breathe such new life into this community. In 2009, Patriot Coal completed and received the Commissioner’s Award for outstanding reclamation work of a surface mine of over 700 acres. In 2011, for the minuscule purchase price of $1, the county received over 500 acres from the Penn Virginia Operating Company. This gift laid the groundwork for the development of a park dedicated to the memory of the late Henderson County Judge Executive Sandy Lee Watkins.
Watkins was elected in 1994 and remained in office until his untimely death in 2010. A dedicated community leader, he was always striving to gather innovative ideas, always looking for the best possible solutions to problems, and continually on high alert for ways to enhance operations for the local government, businesses, and community. Watkins was totally devoted to the county’s residents; in turn, he was well-loved and respected at both the state and local levels.
A County Without A Park
Watkins’ wife Susie pointed out when addressing the fiscal court in 2010 that her husband often commented that “Henderson County was one of the few counties in Kentucky that did not have a park.” She went on to say, “This [park] program was very dear to his heart.” Ultimately, it was only fitting that this park bears his name. The current Henderson County Judge Executive, Hugh McCormick, along with County Engineer Bill Hubiak and with the full support of Henderson Fiscal Court, made plans at the time of the purchase to include fishing lakes, walking and hiking trails, horse trails, and an outdoor archery center to jump-start one of the dreams Watkins had for the county. Not only are these goals being met, but there is room for so much more.