Boo! Clubs tackle treat

Rotary and Lions partner on project Phase 1 pathway

  • Getting the forms in place are, from left, Patrick Clore, Barth Johnson, Jerry Miller and Darryl Ammerman.
    Getting the forms in place are, from left, Patrick Clore, Barth Johnson, Jerry Miller and Darryl Ammerman.
  • Joel Nahari and Barth Johnson fill the pathway forms with some of the 22 tons of No. 2 stone used on the project.
    Joel Nahari and Barth Johnson fill the pathway forms with some of the 22 tons of No. 2 stone used on the project.
  • Herman Schack pounds a stake into one of the 6-by-6 timbers framing the new stone pathway.
    Herman Schack pounds a stake into one of the 6-by-6 timbers framing the new stone pathway.

    By Tami Vater

    Pendleton Co. Tourism

    BUTLER — The Falmouth Rotary and Butler Lions clubs joined forces to launch the first phase of The Boo Project, a community initiative honoring environmental stewardship and expanding public access to the Licking River.

    Nearly a dozen club members volunteered their time and labor Oct. 21— shoveling, hammering and setting 6-by-6 timbers and stone — to construct a 194-foot walking path that connects the Butler Community Center to the river access point in the park.

    Funding for this initial build came through a grant from The Rotary Foundation, contributions to The Boo Project, Pendleton County Fiscal Court and the volunteer efforts of club members.

    This pathway is the first of two river access trails planned for the site. The second walking path, along with road access and a six-vehicle parking area, is scheduled for construction in spring.

    An ADA-accessible 6-foot-wide concrete walking path will also be added along the upper portion of the park, ensuring accessibility for all visitors.

    The Pendleton County Cooperative Extension Office will further enhance the site with a natural habitat meadow and an outdoor educational classroom.

    Interpretive signage will highlight the river, its habitat and its surrounding ecosystem, creating both a recreational and educational destination for the community.

    The Boo Project is named in memory of environmental steward Boo Singleton, whose lifelong commitment to preserving and protecting the Licking River continues to inspire this work.

    Each new trail and educational feature serves as a living tribute to his vision for a healthier, more connected community.

    This effort would not be possible without the support of many generous partners and contributors, including Butler Lions; Falmouth Rotary; The Rotary Foundation grant; Kentucky Waterways Alliance grant; City of Butler; City of Falmouth; Pendleton County Fiscal Court; Harrison Memorial Hospital; Rumpke; Three Rivers Health District; Pendleton County High School Class of 1976; Pendleton County Conservation District; Pendleton County 109 Board; Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO); Pendleton County Tourism; Trinity Southern Baptist Church; Atomic Transport; Pendleton County Historical and Genealogical Society; and many other community supporters who have given their time, resources and dedication to making this project a reality.

     

    Members of the Butler Lions and the Falmouth Rotary teamed up Oct. 21 to build the first phase of the Boo Project, expanding public access to the Licking River in Butler, a stone walkway that eventually will be joined to a concrete walking path. Photos by Tami Vater