Before sharing an update on demolition plans for the Walnut Street Stadium and renaming city streets to honor notable local figures, the Hopkinsville City Council signed a proclamation recognizing December as Universal Human Rights month at their Tuesday meeting.
Ward one council member Natasha Francis and ward 12 council member Matthew Handy read the proclamation which highlighted the 75th anniversary of the United Nations’ adoption the Universal Human Rights Declaration on December 10, 1948. The pair shared the declaration’s key tenets which focus on freedom and equality for all.
Following the proclamation reading the meeting was called to order and Hopkinsville Mayor J.R. Knight shared an update regarding the city’s steps toward demolishing the Walnut Street Stadium. Knight says the demolition comes as the stadium has grown to be a hazard toward children in the community and they are currently looking for demolition bids.
Knight says Terrance Davis the executive director of the Hopkinsville Christian County Boys and Girls Club, which neighbors the stadium has a plan for repurposing the space by constructing an elementary building for the club.
Moving into their ordinances, the council unanimously approved to rename a section of East 8th Street from South Virginia Street to the CSX railroad, bell hooks Way. The renaming honors hooks who was an author and educator born in Hopkinsville known for her work regarding feminism and race. She passed away in 2021.
The council also unanimously approved to rename a section of East 21st Street from Walnut Street to Harrison Street, Bill Flynn Boulevard. Flynn was a businessman and philanthropist known for starting Flynn Enterprises in Western Kentucky. Flynn passed away in 2021.
Continuing with zoning efforts the council unanimously approved the establishment of a general business district on Canton Pike, a one-and two-family residential district on Pyle Lane and a single-family residential district along Pyle Lane and Peachtree Place.
Moving into their municipal orders the council unanimously approved for around $41,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act to go toward the City Video Security Project. The project will install more cameras in what the order refers to as “strategic” locations across Hopkinsville, new cameras on Rail Trail, additional emergency call boxes on Rail Trail and new cameras to replace old ones across the city.