Urban River Initiative: Frankfort

The kentucky river

You cannot separate Frankfort and the Kentucky River. As this waterway bisects the commonwealth’s capital city, it weaves a history and a character that couldn’t be had any other way.

The Kentucky River provides a backdrop to and the backbone for all that takes place in this city.

If you’ve ever eaten fried fish overlooking Lock and Dam 4 or sipped a bourbon from the oldest continually operating distillery in America, you already appreciate how the Kentucky River has shaped your day. 

If you’ve taken a guided pontoon boat tour of the horseshoe bend or paddled with a group of friends, you see how this waterway adds to the quality of life in the capital city. 

If you’ve taken in River View Park—home of the Ward Oates Amphitheater, walking path and boat dock—you know the Kentucky River is an attraction for residents and visitors alike. 

Then there’s the water that comes out of your faucet. This is sourced from the river a few blocks down from your house. In fact, the Kentucky River provides water to nearly 3/4 million people in this region.

And we can’t forget about the birds and wildlife that live and hunt along the banks of the Kentucky River—not to mention the aquatic creatures relying on clean water for their very lives. Bald eagle sightings were once, now becoming more common, and …

From its first prospector’s land survey in 1773, Frankfort has remained the largest town on the Kentucky River. The body of water attracts artists, outdoors people and folks looking for a tranquil quality of life to the area. 

From Kentucky’s capital city, the Kentucky River winds on to the Ohio River, the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. Every action that affects the waterway here affects the quality of the Kentucky River in Carrollton, Louisville, Owensboro, Paducah and beyond. We are all stewards of this great natural resource.

Urban River Initiative: Frankfort

The Urban River Initiative connects the people of Frankfort with the Kentucky River, running through the heart of the city. A healthy river offers flood management, ecosystem services, recreational space and clean drinking water for a healthier, more vibrant community. Providing resources and education through the Urban River Initiative, conservation nonprofit Woods and Waters Land Trust is equipping Frankfort residents to become stewards of the Lower Kentucky River Watershed.