About

Operation PRIDE was created in 1993 for the purpose of supporting activities that enhance the appearance of Bowling Green and Warren County. It is a non-profit organization with a 501(c)3 designation under the Internal Revenue Code.

The twenty-one-member Board of Directors includes members of local government, local businesses, the Chamber of Commerce, and local civic organizations. It is a privately funded organization that is funded through donations and fund-raising activities.

Operation PRIDE served as the catalyst for purchase and redevelopment of the historic L&N Depot, created the Welcome Sign Program at the entrances of Bowling Green and Warren County, initiated the sign ordinance that eliminated portable signs, initiated the sign uniformity standards for city street signs, created the Partner With Pride program, created landscaped entry corridors off of I-65 (Cemetery Road, Scottsville Road, and Louisville Road Spur) as well as maintaining the corridors in the Trans Park. With the reconfiguration the Scottsville Road and Shive Lane intersection left a tall embankment that the highway department had slated to be covered with rocks and gravel, commonly known as riprap. Knowing Operation PRIDE’s commitment to the beautification of Bowling Green, the highway department contacted Operation PRIDE and asked if they were interested in doing something more aesthetically pleasing. The Board of Directors embraced the project and in less than six months funds were raised for the construction and landscaping of the retaining wall that replaced the planned riprap.

After the December 11, 2021 tornado Operation PRIDE worked with the Neighborhood Services Department of the city to identify the areas that lost hundreds of trees and to develop ways to “re-green” Bowling Green. Operation PRIDE submitted grants to the Arbor Day Foundation and received grants sponsored by International Paper, through the Arbor Day Foundation, to plant twenty-five large trees at Jennings Creek Elementary and give away one hundred and ten large trees to local residents. Additional tree plantings and giveaways are planned for the fall.

Beautifi-65 was initiated by Johnny Webb, co-chairman of the Operation PRIDE Board of Directors, as both a beautification project and an economic development project. By creating two stunning entryway signs into the city and installing black, four plank fencing and landscaping along the interstate and the exits into the city, the project invites the travelers along I-65 to come into the city and enjoy our many restaurants, hotels, and other sites. Once they leave the interstate they are enveloped by our beauty and community pride and may decide to further investigate what our area has to offer.

This organization is funded solely through individual and corporate donations. To date, 100% of the multimillion Beautifi-65 project has been funded by the citizens and businesses of the area. No federal, state, or local funds have been used for this project.