By Cindy Schroeder
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LAKESIDE PARK - This Kenton County city is known for its picturesque lakes and older neighborhoods with tree-lined streets.

But until now, affluent Lakeside Park had no public parks.

PARK PAVERS

What: Pavers surrounding a planned veterans' memorial for Lakeside Park Cost: $45 for the first paver, $35 for each subsequent one. Each has three lines with 14 characters per line. Proceeds: Money will be used to defray landscaping costs. Information: (859) 341-6670.

On Thursday, city officials tried to remedy that when they broke ground for Memorial Park. The park, which will include a veterans' memorial, will be developed at the corner of Bellemonte Avenue and Dixie Highway. Lakeside Park acquired the site 21/2 years ago, when state highway officials demolished two homes for Dixie's widening.

State Sen. Dick Roeding, R-Lakeside, secured $25,000 in the 2000 state budget for development of Memorial Park.

"I love the location because there's so much traffic that goes by," said Karen Gamel, who has made recreation a priority since becoming mayor last January.

She predicted residents from Lakeside Park and neighboring cities will visit the new park to reflect on friends and family who served their country.

An 11-member city parks committee chaired by Deb Henrickson also is discussing possible uses for a grassy area at Dixie and Buttermilk Pike. Lakeside Park acquired that site last year, when the state widened Buttermilk Pike.

Still on Lakeside Park's wish list for the city of young families is land for a children's play park.

The land-locked city of 2,869 that's home to only two businesses has no money in its budget to buy parkland, Gamel said.

"We would love to see one of our citizens donate land to our city for a children's play park," Gamel said. "We need about four acres."

In the last five years, Lakeside Park has seen a shift from mostly older, longtime residents to a younger population, said Henrickson, a City Council member and mother of five children ages 3 to 21.

"Now there are a lot of newly married couples and more younger families with young children moving to the city," she said.

E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com