State officials and industry leaders gathered in Irvine Wednesday morning to break ground on a new phase of construction at the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation. Kentucky Steam was awarded a $500,000 EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant. The money will be used to address surface soil contamination at the future site of an amphitheater.
Sherry Weedman is an environmental consultant for Kentucky Steam. She explained that over 100 years as a functioning rail yard, heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons ended up in the ground.
“The surface soils have some environmental contamination associated with it, that a simple capping with a geotextile liner and a foot of clean material will prevent a human health contact and then make it safe for patrons to come to the theater,” said Weedman.
When all phases of construction are complete, the 40-acre site will include an amphitheater, museum, restaurant, brewery as well as train rides and demonstrations. Kentucky Steam officials also envision a rail line from Hazard to the site in Irvine, bringing in even more visitors from eastern Kentucky.
Senior Advisor to Governor Beshear and Former State Representative Rocky Adkins was among those celebrating the next step in the project. Adkins said he looks forward to the day when the parking lot at Kentucky Steam is full of visitors.
“And for this field behind us that used to be a railroad yard full of people enjoying something different that they never thought. And really, for those that used to work here to be proud of what this property now is becoming,” said Adkins.
With the public and private sectors working together to complete all phases of construction, Adkins said he hopes to see the first concerts at Kentucky Steam in the summer of 2023 or 2024.
