The option to vote yes for parks will be on the ballot this November. The proposed referendum would establish a dedicated fund for Lexington's public parks, to the tune of $8 million annually.
David Lowe is chairman of the Parks Advisory Board Sustainable Funding subcommittee.
“You know, when new businesses are looking at cities to relocate to or to move their headquarters to, it really is that quality of life element of which parks are such a major contributor that that really tipped the balance in favor of Lexington, our beautiful city.”
Griffin Van Meter describes himself as quote first and foremost, a park lover.
What we're talking about here with this dedicated capital fund is an opportunity to not just make our parks good, but to make our parks great and not just to have the best parks, but to really have a better Lexington and we can achieve that by investing in our public space.”
Victoria Meyer was a community health nurse for 17 years and heads the Lexington Park Advisory Board.
“Parks are such an important part of our community's health. From children who grow strong bones and muscles from playing outside and staying off their screens to folks, seniors who need a place to get out and gather, some people say we have an epidemic of loneliness for seniors, and so parks are a great place. We kind of call it the living room of our community, where people can gather and finally those of us in the workforce need a place to reduce stress, to get out there, to walk, to meditate, to see the green and breathe the fresh air. That's a very important part. And the other thing the parks do is they're environmental benefit. The trees clean the air.”
Meyer says the funds will go toward maintenance and improvements and a guaranteed designated fund will enable them to plan better for the future. Pools are particularly expensive and several have closed in recent years. Meyer would like swimming lessons to be more accessible.
The Parks Board has worked with the Trust for Public Lands on two projects. One aims to have a park within a 10 minute walk of each citizen.
“And you just can't do be equitable in every neighborhood if you don't have the funds for it,” Meyer told WUKY.
And to make parks more accessible in general.
“Other things we're looking at is ADA improvements. We had an analysis this past early spring and we have a lot of work to do in that area to make things accessible for everybody.”
Christine Smith, executive director of Seed Leaf, is championing a yes for parks vote this fall after participating in a city project talking to Lexingtonians about what they want.
“And over and over again, what we heard was that people wanted to be in their parks even more, but they needed to see infrastructural improvements. They needed to have better access. They needed to have more infrastructure for their children to be able to enjoy those.”
Jennifer Mossotti, a former council member and a licensed realtor, stressed that parks are good for your quality of life and for business.
“When we look at site selection for jobs for companies, we look at recreation, we look at parks and that's an important key for any city.”
Yes, for parks will be sponsoring the woodland art fair this weekend, where they look forward to sharing more information and in the lead up to the election in Woodland Park.
