Preserving local history and cleaning up trails were the main topics at Monday’s Hopkinsville Community Budget Forum.
As the City of Hopkinsville works to create a 2025-2026 fiscal year budget, community members were invited to have a voice in the process.
Members of the bell hooks Legacy Group spotlighted a possible upcoming project and asked for the city’s help. The group highlights the work and achievements of Hopkinsville-born author Gloria Jean Watkins, better known by her pen name bell hooks.
Watkins’ sister Gwenda Motley says the group wants to renovate the Carnegie Library and name it the “bell hooks Legacy Center.” The center will house Watkins’ work and be a space for hosting writing workshops, poetry readings, education symposiums and more.
Motley and her sisters would often visit that library and she says the place played a role in Watkins becoming bell hooks.
John Richardson of Hopkinsville asked for the city to continue supporting the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County and to address needed repairs to the Woody Winfree Fire-Transportation Museum and the roof of the Odd Fellows Building.
Hopkinsville Mayor J.R. Knight says they are currently working with insurance companies to get repairs completed for both buildings.
Concerning local trails, Christian County Circuit Judge John Atkins asked for the city to look into improving the Hopkinsville Riverwalk because it has become unsafe following the impacts of storms and severe weather. Ahead of the forum, Atkins says he went to the trail and saw many downed trees.
To conclude the forum, Knight thanked attendees for showing up and sharing what they want to see in the upcoming budget. Knight says he will factor in the community’s ideas while he works on the budget before he turns it over to the City Council, where it will be voted on and discussed.
The budget forum is available on YouTube.