John Prine Memorial Park

The John Prine Memorial Park at Rochester Dam was officially dedicated on October 1, 2022, on the banks of the Green River in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky -- the landscape that inspired one of the most beloved songs in American folk music. Prine's 1971 song 'Paradise' mourns the destruction of the town of Paradise, Kentucky, by strip mining and TVA coal plant construction, and places the Green River at its emotional centre. Prine's ashes were reportedly scattered in the Green River at Rochester Dam, making the site a place of both civic remembrance and genuine personal significance.

The park had long existed as a local recreational area before being renamed in Prine's honour. The Muhlenberg County Tourism Commission led improvements including a new boat ramp, expanded parking, a picnic pavilion, and river-view benches. The dedication ceremony drew fans from across the country. Prine's parents were both from Muhlenberg County, and he spent childhood summers in the area -- giving his connection to the region a biographical depth that went beyond mere inspiration.

The park is open to the public and listed on the Kentucky Music Trail. It sits approximately five miles from the former site of the town of Paradise itself. For fans of the song, standing at the Rochester Dam and looking out at the Green River is as close as it gets.