The new Coach Lester G. Mimms Trail is two miles long, and connects two Kentucky State Parks: the Historic Cherokee Park and Kenlake State Resort Park. But as you'll soon see, this trail does so much more than merely bridge two formerly disparate parks. Named after long-time Kentucky Park Superintendent Coach Lester Mimms, this trail is significant for numerous reasons. Cherokee State Park was originally a blacks-only state park, created to complement the then-whites-only Kentucky Lake State Park (now Kenlake State Resort Park). Today, however, this new trail represents not only a literal bridging between two Bluegrass parks, but also a symbolic connection between two cultures.
It may be difficult to believe, but this beautiful Kentucky State Park has a past fraught with friction.
In 1951, Cherokee State Park opened in Kentucky as a blacks-only state park -- the third park of this kind in the country.
This 300-acre lakefront park was a favorite destination in the 1950s, boasting a beach, picnic areas, cottages, and more. But after the Civil Rights and desegregation movements of the 1960s, the park was closed.
The park sat pretty much forgotten for decades, before becoming part of Kentucky's Kenlake State Resort Park.
And then, in late 2021, something incredible happened.
Last December, the Coach Lester G. Mimms Trail opened, a two-mile trail connecting the historic Cherokee State Park with the Kenlake State Resort Park campground.
Beautiful and accessible, this two-mile trek is a literal and symbolic bridging between two formerly disparate parks, peoples, and histories.
Named after the original superintendent of Cherokee State Park, this trail is a welcome addition to the Bluegrass State. It's a way of acknowledging our history -- all of our history.
No group or culture is perfect, and humans make mistakes. But when we can acknowledge the past and move forward together, with awareness and respect, that's a beautiful thing.
And the Coach Lester G. Mimms Trail is, quite simply, beautiful.
Come and be part of this historic new moment in Kentucky history -- this is one hike sure to leave a lasting impression.
This beautiful new trail is definitely worth checking out ASAP; we recommend adding it to your Bluegrass hiking bucket list!
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