Federal Restrictions Lifted on 3.62 Acres in Paducah, KY: Land Slated for Boys & Girls Club Transfer

This bill is a hyper-local piece of legislation that deals with 3.62 acres of land in Paducah, Kentucky, specifically at 2956 Park Avenue—part of what used to be the Paducah Memorial Army Reserve Center. Essentially, it directs the Secretary of the Interior to remove old federal deed restrictions, easements, and covenants that have been hanging over this parcel since the U.S. government transferred it to the City of Paducah back in 2012 (found in Deed Book 1229, pages 247–260 in McCracken County).

Clearing the Title for Community Use

Why the cleanup? The goal is to clear the way for the City of Paducah to transfer the land to a specific local non-profit: the Oscar Cross Boys Girls Club of Paducah. If you’ve ever dealt with trying to buy or sell property with old, complicated restrictions, you know how much this kind of federal cleanup matters. This bill is the equivalent of getting the federal government to sign off on the title, making it usable for its intended community purpose. It’s a direct move to help a local organization get its hands on some land.

The Fine Print: New Rules for the Transfer

While the old restrictions are being tossed out, the bill immediately slaps three new, very specific conditions onto the land transfer, and these are worth noting. First, the City of Paducah can only sell or transfer the land to the Oscar Cross Boys Girls Club—no other buyers allowed. Second, if the Boys & Girls Club ever decides down the road that they don't want the property anymore and want to sell it, they must first offer to give it back to the federal government (the Secretary of the Interior) for free. That’s a big caveat, establishing a federal right of first refusal, even if it is a free one. Third, whatever the land is used for, whether by the City or the Club, it must remain “compatible with public use or recreation.”

What This Means on the Ground

For the Paducah community, this bill should streamline the process of getting this 3.62-acre parcel into the hands of a non-profit organization likely planning to use it for youth programs or community activities. The benefit is clear: more resources for a local club. However, the requirement that the land use be “compatible with public use or recreation” is a bit vague. That phrase could mean anything from a full public park to a private building with a few shared facilities, leaving some room for interpretation by the Secretary. Also, the federal government’s right to take the land back for free later on introduces a unique long-term obligation for the Boys & Girls Club, which is a detail any future planning committee for the organization will need to keep in mind.