Gallatin County's Hartig Park and Nature Preserve is 530 acres in size and contains 20 hiking and horseback trails along with campsites and picnic areas. But comments on the park's social media page have informed us that not everyone likes to hike or ride horses; many would rather paddle canoes or kayaks.

Hartig Park borders the Ohio River and several creeks including Big Bone, South Fork, and Mud Lick. This proximity makes the park very attractive to would-be paddlers. But until very recently, there was no easy way of launching a canoe or kayak from within the park. 

The Hartig Park Working Group (a volunteer group that helps oversee the park) worked to identify an area of the park with the best potential for launching canoes and kayaks. The group then sought county approval for the project including the use of some county road department equipment. The group also approached the local gravel quarry and obtained the promise of gravel at a much reduced cost.

In October of 2019, the Gallatin County Fiscal Court approved the project and our county road department began work. After only three weeks time, not only was there a launching area, but also a newly graveled lane and parking area adjacent to it.

Gallatin County Extension has taken on a huge role at Hartig Park. We provide assistance and oversight to the park's volunteer working group; we conduct educational programs at the park; and we liaison between the volunteers and the county government. We do all this because we understand the important role outdoor recreation can play in overall health and fitness. We also understand the importance of preserving wild places for generations to come.