{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-148.870","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 148.870","heading":"Legislative recognition and purpose.","body":"(1) The General Assembly recognizes that the ridge top of Pine Mountain is a unique\narea desirable for the creation of a trail. Therefore, it is hereby declared that in order\nto afford the citizens of the Commonwealth an opportunity to enjoy this natural\narea, to attract out-of-state visitors, to ensure the well-being of our tourism industry,\nto preserve for future generations the beauty of certain areas untrammeled by man,\nto provide for the ever -increasing outdoor recreation needs of an expanding\npopulation, and to promote the preservation of, public access to, travel within, and\nenjoyment and appreciation of the outdoor areas and historic resources of the\nCommonwealth, there is hereby established a certain defined area in the\nsoutheastern part of the Commonwe alth for ultimate designation as the Pine\nMountain State Scenic Trail, with land in the defined area owned or leased by the\nCommonwealth or on which the Commonwealth has obtained an easement\ncomprising the initial state park.\n(2) It is the intent of KRS 14 8.870 to 148.892 to assure preservation of the scenic,\necological, and other values within the boundaries of the trail and to provide proper\nmanagement of the recreational, wildlife, water, and other resources within those\nboundaries. It is further the intent of KRS 148.870 to 148.892 to impose reasonable\npolicies governing the use of land within the authorized boundaries of the trail,\nexcept for the restrictions set forth in KRS 148.870 to 148.892, for the general\nwelfare of the people of the Commonwealth and, where necessary, to enable the\nCommonwealth or any of its agencies to acquire fee title or lesser interests in land\nwithin the boundaries of the trail, in order to maintain the public trust in this unique\narea.\n(3) The General Assembly recognizes the valuable contributions that volunteers and\nprivate, nonprofit groups have made to the development and maintenance of trails\nthroughout the Commonwealth. In recognition of these contributions, it is further\nthe purpose of KRS 148.870 to 148.892 to encourage  and assist volunteer citizen\nand nonprofit group involvement in the planning, development, maintenance, and\nmanagement, where appropriate, of the trail.\n(4) The General Assembly recognizes that the establishment of Pine Mountain State\nScenic Trail is not intended to create a one hundred twenty (120) mile linear barrier\naround southeastern Kentucky. The General Assembly further recognizes that to\nensure the continued economic development of the area, provisions shall be made\nfor means of ingress and egress for owners of property and those with property\nrights affected by the creation of the trail, and for new road construction, utility\nfacilities, and pipelines that may cross the trail.","path":["KRS Chapter 148"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=1815","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:50:42Z","sha256":"1b7d2241f5be4cda1f2520db39b74ba1477aab574f2d0b8615e05f40c849e628","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-148.860","next":"us-ky/krs-148.872"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}