Corbin Tourism considering shade to improve Sanders Park

The Corbin Tourism Commission approved the second reading of its 2020-21 budget during a special called meeting on June 15.

While the total budgeted amount is $701,000, Tourism Director Maggy Kriebel noted that the actual budget is significantly lower.

“$485,000 of that goes to The Arena,” Kriebel explained, leaving Tourism with $216,000.

“We are just trying to survive this year,” Kriebel said, noting there are no capital projects included in the budget and that event sponsorships have been eliminated.

Kriebel said with the COVID–19 pandemic continuing to affect the primary revenue sources, restaurant and hotel taxes, the commission elected to take a conservative approach.

“Our hotels are seeing 10 to 25 percent occupancy,” Kriebel said.

However, it will not completely stop tourism’s efforts.

Kriebel has targeted two smaller projects that she described as, “low hanging fruit.”

The first involves adding a shade structure at Sanders Park.

The park at the corner of North Main and Monroe Street downtown has benches, but receives direct sun throughout most of the day.

Across Main Street is the plaza area that is owned by Corbin Tourism.

The commission had previously approved the purchase of a giant chess set, which Kriebel said would be installed within the next week.

Kriebel said she would like to see seating in the area, and possibly a cornhole set.

“It is a very useable, cool space that goes along with the mission of elongating downtown,” Kriebel said, noting something will also need to be done with the flooring in the area.

To add more atmosphere, Kriebel said she would like to see a mural on the Crown Medical wall that faces the space.

As to why tourism would take on the project, Kriebel said it does fit with Corbin Tourism’s mission statement.

“We are still in the middle of destination development,” Kriebel said.