April is National Kite Month. According to the National Kite Month website “April was chosen as National Kite Month because it was the month that perfectly symbolized hope, potential, and joy. As the first month in Spring, it is when most kite fliers are starting to bring their kites out of the closet and prepare for a summer on the beach.” Here in Winchester, we fly our kites over the rolling hills of the Bluegrass. More about this in a moment, but first here’s a bit of kite history.
Kites originated in Asia, with the oldest depiction dating back to 9500 to 9000 years B.C. in a cave found on Muna Island in southeast Indonesia. These kites, called a Kaghati, were made from readily available natural elements including native leaves, bamboo skin and rope made from forest pineapple.
The kite was used by Benjamin Franklin in 1752 to prove that lightning was caused by electricity and was instrumental to the Wright Brothers as they developed the first airplane in the late 1800’s. Throughout the 20th century kites evolved and were utilized for meteorology, aeronautics, wireless communications and photography. Today kites are used mostly for recreation.
If you’re looking to get outdoors on a beautiful April day or are wanting to enjoy something new or remember a fond tradition, grab a kite, visit one of our parks and celebrate National Kite Month.
Here are the Best Places in Winchester/Clark County to GO FLY A KITE!
Winchester’s newest park, Legacy Grove, is 30-acre public park has a two-acre adventure play area, nature trails, walking paths, dog parks and open lawns. Carve out some extra time to enjoy Legacy Grove’s play area. This state-of-the-art playground encourages children to explore, invent, be daring, stretch their imaginations, move, be curious and discover. It’s an inclusive playground designed for children of all abilities that include ramps, slides, sensory equipment, and smooth surfaces and is fully fenced to provide a safe and inclusive environment for all children.
College Park, located on the former campus of Kentucky Wesleyan and Southeastern Christian Colleges, in the heart of Winchester. The original Carnegie library and gymnasium still occupy the grounds as do several columns, once part of the administration building. The old athletic field is the perfect place to fly your kite! Be sure to enjoy the story trail, or bring a tennis racket or basketball.
The Civil War Fort at Boonesboro, built by Union Soldiers to defend the ford and ferry at Boonesborough, is now a 26-acre heritage park that interprets the Civil War, early pioneer fortifications, flora, fauna and the important role African Americans played during the Civil War. While little remains of the earthen fort, the site offers amazing views of the surrounding countryside and the Kentucky River. Bring your walking shoes and a picnic lunch!
Lykins Park offers a variety of spaces to fly your kite. In addition to tens of acres of green space the park has a picnic shelter, tennis and basketball courts, ball fields, playground, walking trail and skate park. Plan correctly and you can make an afternoon of memories.