Save Giles Conrad Park Shoreline Access

02/01/2025

This is great news for Boone county residents. We need to preserve our beautiful shoreline. Can the Conservatory purchase Giles Conrad park from the Conrad family so it can also be better protected? Currently this land is leased by Boone county for $1 per year from the Conrad family for use for a public park. But we almost lost access to the riverfront when a Boone county government official claimed to be the landowner in support of a permit to locate barges along the entire riverfront of the park. How can we as a community preserve this beautiful shoreline and its history permanently?

Boone Conservancy Executive Director Christy Noll said the effort to protect the property began more than a decade ago in 2012.

12/27/2022

Thank you everyone, our park is safe! We had good conversation with a representative from the company and recieved written confirmation that they are not pursuing the original nor the revised permit. The project has ceased. In the event of any future interest would be pursued with "total transparency through communication with county officials." We will be archiving our page and hope to see you all enjoying the park for many years to come. You made a difference.

12/10/2022

The Division of Water received 130 emails for public comment. We were told this is the largest number of emails they have ever received for public comment. Thank you to everyone who took the time to write an email. You have been very successful in drawing attention to the need to preserve public access and enjoyment of the Giles Conrad park river shoreline. The Giles Conrad family leases the park to Boone County for the very small sum of $1.00 per year “to be used for recreational purposes”. We are thankful for the generosity of the Giles Conrad Family; our purpose is to preserve the use of the park for recreational enjoyment. We have been told by a few sources that C&B Marine is no longer planning to place barges along the shoreline of Giles Conrad park; but we have not yet received a written response from C&B Marine confirming this. We will continue to request a written response from C&B Marine. Once we receive written confirmation from the company, we will post an update.

12/02/2022

Hello everyone, we have a good update to share. We are awaiting confirmation from the barge company, however, our conversations with several sources tell us that the company has agreed to pull the plans and will not be moving the barges to the park shoreline. Your support and actions have made a difference. We thank you and will keep you updated.

11/28/2022

For those interested in planning activity along the Ohio River in Boone County, there is a meeting on Thursday, Dec 1.

11/27/2022

Image of south shoreline of Giles Conrad park taken this beautiful Thanksgiving weekend followed by picture of planned placement of barges. The barges will extend beyond the sandbar seen in the photo. Please send public comment to Division of Water at [email protected] by 12/5/22 to let them know of the harm the extra barges would do to public access and enjoyment to the south shoreline. of Giles Conrad park. You can also send emails to county and state leaders. We appreciate everyone's efforts to preserve this unique and beautiful public shoreline in Boone county.

11/23/2022

This is a picture of the view of the barges moored at the north end of Giles Conrad park today 11/23/22.
The smell from diesel fumes was high today.

Our mission is that this will not happen at the south end of the park, where the playground, picnic shelters and public access to the shoreline is located. This is where Conner High School seniors have graduation pictures taken, where children go to explore the Ohio River shoreline, where people come to fish and bird watch, where churches and families host picnics, reunions, birthday parties, and weddings. Yesterday we were informed that county leaders have begun talks with C&B Marine to work out an agreement to preserve the view and access to the shoreline on the south end of the park. We are encouraged and thankful to hear that our county leaders and C&B Marine are adopting a spirit of cooperation in response to concerns raised by residents that mooring up to 60 more barges will bring harm to the community. Boone County advertises 42 miles of Ohio River shoreline on its website. The south end of Giles Conrad park is just 2000 feet (less than ½ mile) of those 42 miles. We are hopeful that C&B Marine and Boone county leaders can find a way forward to preserve the unobstructed views and public access to this very valued 2000 feet of river shoreline.
Tomorrow will be a beautiful day; please enjoy a park with your family. We want to express our thankfulness that so many of you have shared this issue with others, have sent emails to county officials, and submitted a comment to Division of Water. We will continue to post updates as we receive them.

11/19/2022

If you would like to see all the public documents related to this issue, please go to: https://dep.gateway.ky.gov/eSearch/Approvals/Pending

Once on the page, enter the AI No. 120443 in the Agency ID field, select Water Quality in the Program field, and click the Search button to view the documents available.

11/19/2022

This is Giles Conrad park; the only park in Boone County in Hebron KY that offers scenic views and shoreline access to Ohio river. People from all other the greater Cincinnati area visit the park to take walks, go fishing and sit around campfires on the shoreline. A local company is seeking a permit to move up to 60 barges along the entire length of the park. This will not only block the views of the river form the walking paths and shoreline but also create dielse engine sounds and fumes. If you would like to help save the natural beauty and quiet atmosphere of this park please send an email to [email protected] with subject Giles Conrad Park.

11/16/2022

These are a few of the barges that are currently located further north along the shoreline. Up to 60 of these barges will be permitted to park directly in the view along the walking paths and create a safety issues along the shoreline. In addition to the eyesore and access to the river, there will be noise, smells and harm to the public interest. Please help .