Welcome to
Paducah Sports Park!

Opening Summer 2026

We welcome everyone to our 130–acre campus, a premier destination for athletes, families, and fans. Here you will find modern fields and amenities designed for a variety of sports.

Sports Features

Ready, Set, Play Ball!

We proudly offer configurable diamonds with outfield fencing (up to 7 high school or 20 youth/fast pitch fields), ten rectangle fields, and three multi-purpose shelters.

True To Our Roots

Dr. William Stuart Nelson

Owned by the City of Paducah, 75 acres of the Paducah Sports Park were previously known as Stuart Nelson Park. Nelson was born in Paris, Kentucky, and graduated from Lincoln High School in Paducah. During World War I, he served in combat as a 1st lieutenant. Returning to his studies, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Howard University in 1920 and a divinity degree from Yale in 1924.

Paducah Sports Park honors Dr. William Stuart Nelson, a Paducah native and civil rights leader who was the first African American president of Shaw and Dillard Universities, collaborated with Mahatma Gandhi, and marched with Dr. Martin Luther King. The park pays tribute to him for his accomplishments.

Blue Grass Downs

By transforming the venerable Bluegrass

By transforming the venerable Bluegrass Downs, once a quarter horse race track converted to a thoroughbred track and then to harness racing, into Paducah Sports Park, we’re set to create a definitive sports experience in the heartland of the Bluegrass State.

As a symbol of rebirth and transformation, our facility celebrates the future while honoring local history. The redevelopment project marks a new era for Kentucky’s sports sector, making Paducah the go–to destination for athletes, families, and sports fans from all corners of the region.