Mike Miller Park

Park Hours

Summer
7 AM – 11 PM

Memorial Day weekend – Labor Day Weekend

Winter
7 AM – 10 PM

            After approximately four and one half years of planning, designing and constructing, Marshall County’s first full amenities park, Mike Miller Park, opened to the public in September 2000.

            Before the park came to be, the Fiscal Court appointed a five-member park board to assess the recreation facilities within the county and the cities of Benton, Calvert City, Hardin and also the two state parks in the county.

            The Park Board held a series of public meetings to determine people’s desires for additional recreational opportunities and traveled to other parks with outstanding facilities in the state of Kentucky and surrounding states.

            Armed with the information they collected, the board began a search for property.  The perfect property would be centrally located and large enough for the development of recreational facilities, but not an excessive expenditure.  The Park Board recommended the purchase of an eighty-acre site in the community of Draffenville, located on US Highway 68 West, near the interchange of the Purchase Parkway.  In 1997, the county purchased the property.

            The Park Board then commissioned Brandstetler-Carroll of Louisville for a master plan of the park’s development.  Construction began in the winter of 1998 and approximately two and one half years later, the park was opened for public use.  Present park facilities include:

• Soccer Fields (5)
• Lighted youth baseball fields (3)
• Lighted 380’ baseball field
• Lighted 300’ softball field
• Lighted basketball courts (2)
• Lighted tennis courts (2)
• A sand volleyball court
• A two-mile walking trail (with inclines and flats)
• A horseshoe pit
• A large playground w/ multi-function equipment for children
• Small play areas with swings and spider (2)
• Five-acre stocked fishing lake w/ handicapped accessible fishing pier
• Pavilions with picnic tables and grills
• Indoor restrooms
• Concession stands w/ restrooms (3)
• An office/maintenance building w/ community room
• A storage building
• A Veteran’s Honor Plaza

Veteran’s Honor Plaza

            The Veteran’s Honor Plaza celebrated its first Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day in 2001.  Veterans’ names are listed on monuments underneath the war in which they served, including World War I, II, and the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.

            Bricks were purchased by family members of those living and deceased to make the grounds of the platform of the plaza.  Soldiers’ names and the years they served are engraved on the red bricks.

            Benches line the outer edges of the plaza.  In the center of the plaza stands a tall, thin monument, engraved with the seals of the Marine, Navy, Coast Guard, and Army branches of the United States Military.

            Upon its first Memorial Day, the plaza held a dedication in which several families, friends, government and community officials, and soldiers gathered to honor and remember those who fought for our freedom.

Walking Trails

            With two miles of inclines, flats, and some steep hills, the walking trails are sure to get your blood pumping.  The beautiful trees and winding paths make for a beautiful scenic trek anytime of the year.

            Also used for bike riding and scootering, the walking trails help to promote fitness and family activity.

Shelters

            Used for families, special groups, or church picnics, each pavilion houses picnic tables, a grill, and electrical outlets.  The largest pavilion houses a wood burning fireplace and a balcony overlooking the pond.  During the colder months, curtains are available for the pavilions to keep the wind and chill out.

Soccer

            Soccer has become a year-round sport.  In the afternoon, the fields are in use almost every day of the week.  From kinder soccer to high school soccer, the fields host practices and games on weekends too.

            There are five fields including one lighted field.  The concession stand and restrooms are conveniently located in the center of the fields for the players and their fans that come to watch.

Basketball

            Basketball is essential to any great park, and Mike Miller Park is the home to two lighted full-length basketball courts.  Used for practice or street games, these courts get a lot of playing time.

Tennis Courts

            Tennis fanatics can play into the night at the two lighted courts located near the basketball courts.

Softball / Baseball

            There are five fields including three 204-250’ fields, a 300’ softball field, and a 380’ baseball field.  All five fields are lighted.  The concession stand, which is also a grill that serves lunch daily, cooks up some good food for the players and fans.  The restrooms are housed in back of the concession stand conveniently located between the two fields.

Playground

            The playground at Mike Miller Park is an irresistible attraction to children.  For parents, it’s a great place to make memories with their children.

Volleyball / Horseshoe Tossing

            The volleyball court is located in front of the far left pavilion upon entering the park.  It is great for family cookouts and birthday parties.  You can often catch a game of horseshoes being played too.

Christmas in the Park

            In October, the preparation begins.  Thousands of lights, figures, and displays are placed all over the eighty-acre park.

            Every year, cars roll through the beautifully decorated winter wonderland.  The lights help get folks in to the park in the chillier months and are part of a fundraiser for the Marshall County Needline, a non-profit organization established to help those in the county who are less fortunate.

            Last year, the Needline raised $27,602, along with 13,456 cans of food.  Every year the fundraiser gets bigger and better.

            In 2003, 750,000 lights twinkled.  It’s something to see, and if you are passing through on the Jackson Purchase Parkway , you can catch a glimpse of the park from the road.  The lights stay up through the first of the year.

Lake Area Parks

Big Bear Park is located on Highway 58 (also known as Big Bear Road ) in Benton .  Big Bear has two picnic shelters, a playground, a courtesy dock and ramp, and portable toilets.

Buckhorn Park is located on Highway 936 (also Moors Camp Road ) in Benton .  Buckhorn Park has two picnic shelters, children’s playground, courtesy dock and boat ramp.

Lakeland Wesley Village Park is located on Village Road in Benton .  Lakeland has two picnic shelters with barbeque grills and a fishing pier that is handicap accessible.

Rocky Point Park is located on Highway 1052 ( Little Bear Creek Road ) in Benton .  Rocky Point has one picnic shelter, two portable toilets, a courtesy dock and boat ramp.

Haddock’s Ferry Park is located in Calvert City on Highway 1523.  It has one pavilion, a boat ramp, and it overlooks the Tennessee River .

Birmingham Boat Ramp is located on Highway 962 ( Barge Island Road ) in Benton .

Jonathan Creek Boat Ramp is located on Highway 68, approximately three miles west of Aurora .

Little Jonathan Creek Boat Ramp is located on Highway 80 east of Hardin.

Marshall County Park Board

Eddie Jones, Chairman

J. D. Pace

Paul Cathey

Norman Lewellyn

Joe Ed Brooks

Danny Nelson, Director