On Tuesday, March 18th, the Budget, Finance, and Economic Development (BFED) Committee will hear an update on the newly created Parks Capital Fund from Parks and Recreation Director Monica Conrad.
Director Conrad last presented to the BFED Committee in February about the Park Capital Fund. This month’s presentation details how projects will be selected for the Fund. Lexington Parks and Recreation will determine which projects get funding and will present an annual capital spending plan to the Council for approval during the budget process.
Projects will be selected and prioritized based on:
Projects that prioritize safety and well-being.
Projects that ensure the park complies with current codes and regulations.
Projects that preserve/repair existing park facilities.
Projects that are identified in the 2018 Parks Master Plan.
Projects that are requested from the community or are in high demand across Lexington parks.
Additionally, 10% of the annual Parks Fund revenue will be saved to go toward unplanned capital projects that may arise, such as replacing a swingset that gets destroyed in a severe weather event.
The presentation includes a list of the proposed capital projects to be funded in Fiscal Year 2026. The first year’s projects include investments in every Council District, including new sport courts in Castlewood Park, trail renovations in Veterans Park, facility improvements at the Moondance Amphitheater, and more. You can view the full list in the image below.
Watch the meeting: The Budget, Finance, and Economic Development (BFED) Committee will meet on Tuesday, March 18th at 1pm in Council Chambers. You can attend in-person or watch live on LexTV.
Jemi Chew is a senior at the University of Kentucky majoring in journalism with minors in Arabic and Islamic studies and public policy. She is passionate about rural and community journalism and proud to call Kentucky home.
