The Pennyrile Resource Conservation and Development Area Council and the Jeffers Bend Steering Committee have announced improvements at the Jeffers Bend Environmental Center thanks to a grant from the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.
The $4,931 award was used to install four new doors and seven new windows on three historic buildings at Jeffers Bend, which date back to the 1800s. The upgrades are part of ongoing efforts to preserve and develop the center as a regional destination for education, nature, and community events.
Each year, thousands of visitors explore Jeffers Bend’s trails and gardens, including the Botanical Garden, Children’s Garden, Butterfly Garden, and floral areas maintained by the Christian County Master Gardeners. The center also hosts signature community events such as Take Kids Fishing, Water Week, the Hummingbird Festival, Naturefest, Torchlight Tales, and Christmas at the Bend. School field trips in spring and fall bring hundreds of students for hands-on environmental learning.
The Pennyrile RC&D supports the region with a wide range of programs, from fishing events in Dawson Springs, Hopkinsville, Cadiz, and Greenville to environmental education, streambank stabilization, and flood mitigation projects.
This year, the Kentucky Colonels distributed $2.5 million in grants to 333 nonprofits across the Commonwealth, impacting more than four million people. The funding comes from donations made by Colonels across Kentucky and worldwide. Since 1951, the organization has awarded more than $72 million in grants to support charitable causes.
The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit governed by an all-volunteer board of trustees. Membership is granted as an honorary title by the Governor of Kentucky. More information is available at kycolonels.org.
