General Electric transfers 15 acres of its glass plant property at University Drive and Ky. 2227 to the city for recreational use
SOMERSET, KENTUCKY (July 14, 2025) — After years of persistent inquiry and negotiation, General Electric (GE) and the City of Somerset have hit a home run: The once-popular ballfields on GE’s property that were home to countless nights of youth baseball and softball in this community will return to recreational glory.
GE has agreed to transfer 15 acres of its Somerset Glass Plant property, located off University Drive at Ky. 2227, to the City of Somerset at a significantly discounted price under the condition that it is used for recreational purposes. The glass plant, once a major employer in Pulaski County, closed in August 2017 following a shift in the lighting industry away from traditional lighting products.
Officials with the Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA) and the City of Somerset have lobbied GE for the past six years to sell them the property. Heavily overgrown, the site had become somewhat of an eyesore in a high-traffic area, with many residents calling for it to be restored to a functional space for local youth. This year, GE officials engaged in the conversation, and after the May 16 tornado that devastated Pulaski and Laurel counties, they offered the property for $1, provided it be used for recreational purposes.
Somerset Mayor Alan Keck informed Somerset City Council members at their July 14 meeting that GE will maintain the real estate where the manufacturing facility is located and collaborate with SPEDA and the City of Somerset to identify a long-term replacement that will bring high-paying jobs to the community. Council members approved a resolution to acquire the property, effectively closing the deal.
“What a tremendous win for our community,” Keck said. “GE’s incredibly generous gift allows us to have the funds to renovate the park and turn it into something special for Somerset-Pulaski County’s youth. So many of us have wonderful memories on the mound, in the outfield, in the dugout, or the stands on this property. Just walking it the other day brought so much of that back for me. To see GE Fields decline the way they have and now be able to turn them into an amenity for our children and grandchildren to make their own memories is truly special.”
While the conditions require the property to be used for recreational purposes, Keck said the type of recreational facility to be built there and the project timeline have yet to be determined.
“We will use the feedback we received from the community in our Somerset 2050 comprehensive plan to drive the concept and planning stages of this project,” Keck said. “While we don’t know what type of recreation will happen there yet, we do know recreation will happen — and that is a blessing for our community.”
SPEDA President and CEO Chris Girdler said it is exciting to think about how future generations will use the property. He said he is eager to begin working with GE to find the right tenant for the manufacturing facility property that will complement Somerset-Pulaski County’s thriving economy and quality of life.
“We have been working on this project for some time, and I greatly appreciate GE’s continued collaboration and partnership,” Girdler said. “Their generosity with this real estate transaction is inspiring and will allow our community to start making improvements to the property sooner rather than later. So many people, including myself, have fond memories and experiences at GE Field. I appreciate Mayor Keck and the Somerset City Council allowing SPEDA to play a part in pursuing and negotiating this deal with GE, and we look forward to working with the company on their remaining acreage on site in some form in the future.”
