Sawyer Hayes Community Center

Mrs. Jean Sawyer Hayes has a long and storied connection with the park.  Not only is the park named after her first husband, Erbon Powers Sawyer, but her second husband, Dr. Ray Hogan Hayes, once controlled a very large parcel of land that contained the old Central State Hospital.  Dr. Hayes was superintendent of the hospital from 1965 to 1970.  This site and surrounding land would later be deeded to the Kentucky Department of Parks and added to E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park.  The Community Center is being built in the vicinity of the main campus that Dr. Hayes oversaw.

In the Spring of 2003, Mrs. Jean Sawyer Hayes met with previous Sawyer Park manager Rita Stosberg to discuss her interest in creating a permanent and meaningful memorial honoring her husbands.  Mrs. Hayes generously offered to match state funds for construction of a community center with the mission to provide a facility where park patrons can gather for special events, meetings and educational opportunities.

For the Sawyer Hayes Community Center, the Foundation was invited to manage the process of funding and conceptual development.  The Foundation facilitated the process of hiring and architect by selecting board members to work with Mrs. Hayes and previous park manager Rita Stosberg as a building committee.  Mrs. Hayes and Rita presented to the committee a list of activities and features that would define the project.  Working with Mrs. Hayes, this committee then invited four architectural firms to submit proposals in June, 2005.  Bravura Corporation of Louisville was selected as the architect.

The Sawyer Hayes Community Center is designed to add a new dimension to the park and offer and outlet for passive enjoyment for the park’s scenery and wildlife.  The center will be a catalyst for economic development for the park and surrounding businesses.  The Sawyer Hayes Community Center is a $2 million project with $1 million donated by Mrs. Jean Sawyer Hayes and $1 million contributed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  The community center will include a reception hall that can seat up to 250 guests.  Attached to the reception hall is a spacious trellised outdoor terrace that overlooks the natural forested landscape of the park.  Additionally, there will be a smaller meeting room that seats 30 and opens up to a small terrace for outdoor activities or meetings.  The community center will have a catering kitchen and front lodge area for relaxing near a large fireplace. 

Ground breaking for the community center took place in April 2008. The building opened and hosted its first events in May 2009. For further information about the Sawyer Hayes Community Center, contact center manager Robin Welch at (502) 245-2296 or via e-mail at robin.welch@ky.gov or go to http://parks.ky.gov/findparks/recparks/ep/SawyerHayesCommunityCenter/.