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Duck Island in Noble Park<br>PHOTO:Paducah Parks Services

Duck Island in Noble Park
PHOTO:Paducah Parks Services

City Officials Pledge to Save Duck Island

By WestKyStar Staff

PADUCAH, KY - What a difference a day makes. On Tuesday, city crews were ready to begin the removal of Duck Island in Noble Park Lake. But after a public backlash, the project was put on hold. And now, according to Paducah City Commissioner Gerald Watkins, Duck Island will be saved.

“We will keep Duck Island,” Watkins said. “We’ll stabilize it and it will be a mainstay from now on. We will try to repair the windmill and fix the duck house so the ducks can have a home for another 50 or 60 years.”

City officials said the island had become an eyesore because of erosion and deterioration from years of exposure to rain, snow, ice and other elements.

Published 06:24 AM, Wednesday Aug. 01, 2012
Updated 09:09 AM, Wednesday Aug. 08, 2012

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- Name: eddy a.
  
  8/3/2012 11:45:25 AM
  
  Independent they could name it the Paxton house for their alot of quacking ogoing on over duck island.Give the people what they want just as long as we get what we want and they can go to the park and look at the duck house all day long.And it can be one of the thing to do in paducah,"Hogwash".
  
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  Name: Independent T.
  
  8/2/2012 8:19:15 AM
  
  I just hope they don't re-name it "The Robert Coleman Duck-House"
  
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  Name: Independent Republocrat .
  
  8/2/2012 8:09:37 AM
  
  Per the city's website - Annual Tax Revenue = $29,805,655 with 9.4% or $2,801,732 budgeted to Parks and Recreation. Money does not appear to be the problem. I do not see $2.8 Million worth of services. I am interested in the definition of "Recreation" and it is not easily found. Does this include City Officials recreational activities? Business trips, high-end golf outings to network and lure potential companies/clients/etc? I bet the 5% allotment for "Interfund Transfers" generally comes from Parks & Rec and goes to Admin, Finance, HR, & RISK MANAGEMENT(LOL).
  
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  Name: Independent Republocrat .
  
  8/2/2012 7:52:50 AM
  
  King Paxton's comments via Paducah Sun a branch of "Paxton Media Group" said he did not give a flip about citizens concerns. He is to busy to take such matters...if he were working for votes in a coming election in which he had competition would he make time? Absolutely! As for Duck Island 72+ years makes it an "antique" and what is the cost of digging it out versus reroofing and replastering with a new paint job? As for the island? Add rocks or high quality sod to prevent soil erosion. It seems to me that a crew of full time park attendants could easily maintain this structure at probably 10 minutes average a month. The real issue is either getting wet or fetching a boat - laziness, evident by the tree sprouting from the house. If this minor maintenance doesn't fit the description of park maintenance duties, I do not know what does.
  
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  Name: Terra S.
  
  8/2/2012 12:54:28 AM
  
  So much wasted space at that park. Fix the little island and bring the rides back. Have something fun in Paducah again instead of all this artsy junk.
  
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  Name: Independent T.
  
  8/1/2012 7:09:06 PM
  
  I saw in the paper that the oo' mayor was being his same old arrogant self, distancing himself from such trivial matters when has the serious bidneth of economic development and controlling the riverfront (and might I say non-existant) hotel situation. I think if I was as ineffective as this mayor has been, I would be happy to talk about ducks. Maybe he's embarrased over call the western Kentucky drug task force on duck island because he thought it wss.......a quack house.
  
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  Name: R W.
  
  8/1/2012 2:38:47 PM
  
  There are always geese out by Village Square. And seagulls out by the mall. Leave em alone. Walk in a part of the park where they aren't. Noble Park isn't the only park in the good ol U.S. that has ducks in the park. Maybe you'd like to get rid of all the squirrels, too. Or cork them?
  
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  Name: Independent T.
  
  8/1/2012 12:57:31 PM
  
  Got Goose Poop? Sounds like a job for SUPER CLASS D FELON!!!! Or would that be too much trouble.
  
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  Name: w w.
  
  8/1/2012 12:40:47 PM
  
  there is pollen everywhere, but the only ducks and geese I know of in the city is at the park.
  
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  Name: Independent T.
  
  8/1/2012 12:30:22 PM
  
  .....and, and, and....we could get the Convention Center Board to manage the duck house.
  
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  Name: Independent T.
  
  8/1/2012 12:27:32 PM
  
  There's pollen out there too. Perhaps we should cut down all the trees and bushes and concrete the entire park right after we remove all the ducks and geese. And those playgrounds!!!! Noisy, noisy children, annoying people as they try to enjoy their park. I really dont know what would be best. Perhaps we should call the downtown artists and quilters for guidance about what a park should look like.
  
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  Name: eddy a.
  
  8/1/2012 11:24:28 AM
  
  W W.when you go to the park dont forget to put your shoes on.
  
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  Name: eddy a.
  
  8/1/2012 10:58:02 AM
  
  I remenber dont feed the ducks in the park because of rat city that they had in the park.Things have not change very much for rat city is still there today.It is a problem that will always be here for the city is full of rats.
  
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  Name: eddy a.
  
  8/1/2012 10:47:42 AM
  
  Tom their is a duck house next to lower town it is call city hall.
  
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  Name: Independent T.
  
  8/1/2012 10:45:01 AM
  
  eddy, they tried to make that "feeding the ducks" thing a crime a few years back. Well deserved protests and widespread ridicule ensued, and the city commission reversed itself. I think before the reverasl they were ready to call in Homeland Security to take down all the G'ma's with their 3 year old grandkids feeding the ducks. I really gotta wonder who they listen to before coming up with some of these hairbrained ideas.
  
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  Name: Tom W.
  
  8/1/2012 10:36:09 AM
  
  If the duck house were only in the lower town arts district or affiliated with the quilt show we wouldnt even be having this conversation. Our officals would fix it no questions asked
  
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  Name: eddy a.
  
  8/1/2012 10:18:11 AM
  
  Good Scottie,what are we all going to do go to the park and have a duck walk.
  
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  Name: Scottie O.
  
  8/1/2012 10:01:37 AM
  
  Man what a bitter bunch of folks, it's very obvious that some outdoor exercise(and spelling lessons)are in order.
  
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  Name: eddy a.
  
  8/1/2012 9:43:58 AM
  
  Once again the government at their best at the taxpayers expense.Happy days are here again for the ducks are going to get a new house.
  
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  Name: J A.
  
  8/1/2012 9:29:04 AM
  
  That island is a special place, to look upon it, in the imagination it seemed like a small wonderland to me long ago. I thought the ducks liked swimming out their to get their food and playing and swimming around the pond and having a great time.
  
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  Name: eddy a.
  
  8/1/2012 9:17:33 AM
  
  How much will it cost for repair or a new duck house.Will they half to have excavating done to the island by a contractor.Will they need a architect to design the repair or new duck house.Will they have to have the city building inspector to make sure the job is done right.If they have lights for the duck house will they need a electrical inspector.Do you know if the city have to have permits.What color to paint the duck house because we dont want it to be a eyesore.Maybe they need to get the paducah garden club for flowers and trees for duck island.By the time they get to the total cost of this duck house they will not want the taxpayers to know.
  
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  Name: Terra S.
  
  8/1/2012 9:16:43 AM
  
  At least the city officials finally listened to the public for a change. Too bad it wasn't about something that would have saved millions of taxpayer dollars. Like a big marshmallow.
  
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  Name: R W.
  
  8/1/2012 8:41:47 AM
  
  LOL...Tim P! Complete agreement. Should have been out of there a long time ago.
  
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  Name: eddy a.
  
  8/1/2012 8:22:41 AM
  
  Do you half to have a city permit to feed the ducks in the park.
  
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  Name: Scottie O.
  
  8/1/2012 7:58:22 AM
  
  The island is somewhat of a smallscale landmark for those of us who grew up around here, so I am pleased that it is going to be refurbished, as far a cost is concerned I'm pretty sure it was going to cost to tear it down as well. I agree with many of you concerning the poor choices that our local government has made, however sometimes to maintain sanity you just got to give that stuff a rest for a few minutes, get away from your computer, go for a walk, hey maybe go feed some ducks.
  
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  Name: tim p.
  
  8/1/2012 7:30:37 AM
  
  I read the response the mayor gave concerning the duck island and as usual his attitude toward the issue were negative . He says he isnt running again , well thank the lord for that ! The issues in this city should be decided by the citizens not a pompus windbag who cannot complete a simple sentence..the problem is we have let things such as this happen simply by not coming together as as town should on issues we feel important to us..whether you are for it or against it it should be put to a vote by the taxpayers if it is our money being used for ANYTHING ! Period...
  
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  Name: eddy a.
  
  8/1/2012 7:16:00 AM
  
  Has the city gone to the ducks.
  
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  Name: Bobby C.
  
  8/1/2012 6:56:13 AM
  
  Frank S... congratulations on posting the comment of the month! LOL
  
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  Name: dr p.
  
  7/31/2012 7:34:25 PM
  
  good gosh, another way for our city to blow some more money!! you people of the county need to open up your eyes to bull crap like this!! thats the only reason that they wanna merge with the county so that they can pay for silly things like this, the tent downtown, the executive inn!! the list goes on and on people. tear it down and spend it on something that can benefit thr taxpayer, i agree with frank lets build a duck blind and lease it out by the weekend and make some money that way
  
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  Name: ken r.
  
  7/31/2012 5:18:18 PM
  
  i agree with all of you,, preserve it since it has been there for so long,, i bet if obama or martin luther king gave it to the park then they would be out there with a truck load of money preserving it,, just like that stupid skate board park,,waste of money,, and another big waste of money is putting in that dog park
  
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  Name: R W.
  
  7/31/2012 2:17:21 PM
  
  I'm with Independent T., and many other posters. FIX IT!!! I can't figure out what is wrong with the city leaders either. I'm not exactly sure what would go into fixing an island, but jeez, they would rather dig an island out of a little pond than fix the problems with a little decorative house that sits on it? As far as the poo, I agree that it doesn't need to build up. I actually enjoy the ducks and geese at the park. Ummm....has the Parks Department thought of....well...maybe...CLEAN IT UP!!
  
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  Name: Frank S.
  
  7/31/2012 12:07:39 PM
  
  Lets replace the Duck House with a Duck Blind and sell weekends. Positive cash flow
  
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  Name: Independent T.
  
  7/31/2012 10:43:49 AM
  
  It's only an eyesore because the city parks department let it become an eyesore. What happened? Some quilter not like it? Fix it. What in the heck is it about the group we have in office now? Do they honestly think only their priorities (downtown artists and quilters) are all that makes Paducah, Paducah? How very arrogant.
  
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  Name: Peter P.
  
  7/31/2012 10:16:55 AM
  
  The city cannot do this! They need to hire a consulting firm first.
  
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  Name: bill h.
  
  7/31/2012 10:11:45 AM
  
  How about some parking places near the water so you can relax for a few minutes on your lunch hour. We used to have this before the last "improvements". This would be really good since the foot of Broadway will soon be blocked
  
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  Name: s s.
  
  7/31/2012 9:29:09 AM
  
  I was just through the park a couple days ago. The place could be so much more than it is with a little maintenance and TLC. The back area is so grown up and useless. The banks of the lake are ruined from the ducks and geese. The walkways are loaded with poo to a point you can’t get out and walk around; and if you do you get flogged. But don’t worry, we will spend tens of thousands to make sure the pool patrons have an updates snack shop – something 99% of folks that visit the park will never see. Ohh and tear down the most historic ball field in Paducah outside Brooks Stadium to make a skate park. I am not saying no to a skate park but the pony league field (former home of Team Supply and then Paducah Storm) would have been the last place I would have placed it.
  
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  Name: bob w.
  
  7/31/2012 9:18:09 AM
  
  i think they should keep it. i am sure a concrete company would donate some concrete to pour around the edges of the island. a pump truck could pump it over to the island...
  
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  Name: Tyler D.
  
  7/31/2012 8:42:11 AM
  
  Jim, I for one enjoy Noble Park on a regular basis! It's one of the FEW things to enjoy in Paducah. The money needs to be used to FIX it not destroy it. This is a historical landmark that needs to be preserved.
  
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  Name: jim b.
  
  7/31/2012 8:33:32 AM
  
  I wonder how much this will cost us?The city spends money like it grows on trees in Noble park.
  
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  Name: Tyler D.
  
  7/31/2012 8:18:36 AM
  
  The City should have been maintaining it instead of letting it fall into disrepair! Fix It - Don't destroy it! Paducah should be ashamed!
  
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