Kenton County has finalized two significant projects in Independence, enhancing the historic courthouse campus with a new farmers market pavilion and completing renovations to the Historic Kenton County Courthouse.
The newly constructed open-air farmers market pavilion was developed through collaboration with the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board and the Durr Foundation. It features a 25-by-50-foot covered structure with a cupola designed to complement the historic courthouse, along with public restrooms, storage, and parking.
“Creating a permanent home for the Independence Farmers Market allows us to support our local farmers and helps bring our courthouse campus to life on the weekends,” stated Kenton County Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann. “With all our projects, we aim to create community assets, like this, that will serve our residents for generations to come.”
The Independence Farmers Market marked its return to this location on May 3. The market operates every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., running from May through October.
When not used for the market, this space will be available for public rental via Kenton County Parks & Recreation.
In proximity to the new pavilion, renovations were completed on the Historic Kenton County Courthouse. This final phase included adding a women’s restroom, upgrading men’s restroom facilities and lobby areas, and improving offices of both the Kenton County Sheriff and Property Valuation Administrator.
“These updates ensure the courthouse continues to meet the needs of our residents while preserving a key piece of Kenton County’s history,” said Judge/Executive Knochelmann. “It’s rewarding to see the building and its campus transformed into a welcoming, functional space.”
This renovation effort began in 2018 as part of addressing structural concerns and enhancing accessibility with improved parking and sidewalks. The completion marks an important milestone in balancing historical preservation with modern public service in Kenton County.