Work is well underway on the safety project at AJ Jolly Park. Portions of the park are closed to public access as crews have begun lake dredging operations and spillway reconstruction. Most of AJ Jolly Park will remain open throughout the work.
Areas closed
• Lake Access Road: Closed beyond the turnoff to the pavilion and maintenance garage. This closure applies to all traffic, including vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, and joggers.
• Equestrian Area and Horse Trails: Closed until further notice.
• Disc Golf Course: Holes 7 and 8 will be closed. The remaining holes stay open.
• Dam and Spillway: Access is closed on both sides of the dam and spillway.
New safety signs and fencing have been installed in AJ Jolly Park and the dam area to restrict access to contracted construction crews. Visitors are asked to observe all posted signage, plan their visits accordingly, and use caution around work zones.
The County appreciates the patience and understanding of park visitors as these improvements are completed, and thanks the community for helping keep AJ Jolly Park safe for everyone.
Camping and park admission
Camping remains closed, and admission fees are still free.
About the project
The driving reason for this work is safety. The dam is safe today, but proactive repairs are necessary to keep it that way for the future. Crews will repair concrete and foundations, improve the system that controls lake levels, and fix drainage to preserve the dam’s strength for decades to come.
To make these repairs, the lake was significantly lowered. Lowering the water not only creates the conditions needed for safe dam and spillway work, but also allows the County to efficiently complete other major improvements at the same time. Crews will dredge the lake to remove built-up sediment and replace the culvert near Flatwoods Road Cove with a new bridge.
Verdantas, formerly known as CT Consultants, is serving as the County’s engineering consultant for this project. The firm has decades of experience in municipal infrastructure and environmental design across Northern Kentucky and is guiding the technical work at AJ Jolly Park to ensure the improvements are completed safely, efficiently, and with long-term durability.
By coordinating these efforts, the County is reducing overall costs and shortening the project timeline. Lake access for fishing, kayaking, and other recreation is suspended for the duration of construction.
Most of AJ Jolly Park will remain open during construction. The golf course, Stapleton Pavilion, shelters, playgrounds, sports fields, tennis and pickleball courts, and the open holes of the disc golf course will stay available, though some areas near active work zones may be restricted for safety. Signature events will
continue with scheduling adjustments as needed, including Jolly Thursdays, Music Nights, the Sun Valley Bluegrass Festival, Festival on the Lake, and Spooktacular.
The County will follow environmental guidelines throughout the project to protect wildlife and natural habitats. Removing sediment and deepening the lake will improve water quality, reduce harmful warming in shallow areas, and create better fish habitat.
This project builds on steady upgrades since 2021, when outdoor spaces became even more important for families. The County has added new campsites, yurts, and shelters, along with modern bathrooms and shower houses. Recreation was expanded with upgraded playgrounds and several new kayak amenities. Trails and lake access were improved, including a longer, safer boat ramp. A new RV waste disposal station was installed
to support campers. Through a partnership with altafiber, free public Wi-Fi now covers AJ Jolly Park, the golf course, and Pendery Park.
The project is funded through county, state, and grant resources, with no new resident fees being added.