VERSAILLES, Ky. — On Tuesday, the Versailles City Council approved committing funds toward improvements at city and county parks and the construction of a new multipurpose turf field.

Versailles and Woodford County hope to start the $6 million project this coming spring aimed at improving the parks.

“People want good places to go, to do recreation, to walk, play with their kids, to have playground equipment,” said Richard Pictor, executive director of Versailles Woodford Parks and Recreation.

Wednesday, Versailles City Council committed its portion of funding toward the project. Pictor said investing in parks improves the quality of life for residents and visitors.

“Tourists passing through, they may take a bourbon tour, but then they want to take a walk, get a little exercise, so having a good safe park system touches so many different people,” Pictor said.

Some of the most noticeable improvements will be at Big Spring Park, where the parks department plan to upgrade playground equipment, modernize pavilions and create a plaza area for community events.

“It wasn’t used as often and when parks aren’t used, that’s when vandalism happens and other unwanted things. So the more we get people down here and using this, the less we’ll have those things happen,” Pictor said.

All city and county parks will get new playground equipment aimed at including more children.

“Stuff that’s all-inclusive, everything is going to be handicap accessible and something for the whole community,” Pictor said.

The Woodford County Fiscal Court has to approve the funding portion before construction begins.

The multipurpose turf field will be at the county park and cost around $1.2 million.