Watch video from ribbon cutting
We’re adding a park to the family! Today, Lexington Parks & Recreation named the new addition, Buckhorn Park, with Mayor Jim Gray and Councilmember Preston Worley cutting a ribbon to celebrate.
The park gives new life to property already owned by the city. Currently, the property at 3318 Buckhorn Dr. is operated by the Division of Water Quality and houses a storage tank. Utilizing the two acres in front of it, the city will make the area into a passive, open, green space. The vision for the park was a collaboration between the Division of Water Quality, Lexington Parks & Recreation and Councilmember Worley.
When I first visited this site location, I saw all of the green space around the water storage tank and thought the best use for this space would be a neighborhood park,” Councilmember Worley said. “In working with Mayor Gray, the Division of Water Quality and Parks & Recreation, we now have a better vision of what this park is going to be. I look forward to continuing this partnership to bring our neighbors something they will be able to enjoy for many years.”
This addition increases both Lexington’s number of parks and the ability for residents to find one within a 10-minute walk, a goal Mayor Jim Gray is committed to. The United States Conference of Mayors adopted a resolution at the 85th Annual Conference that set a goal for cities to have a park within a 10-minute walking distance of every resident.
“Last year, I joined over 200 mayors nationwide in committing myself to increase access to parks,” Gray said. “A great American city deserves a great park system and today we come closer to that commitment.”
The Director of Parks & Recreation, Monica Conrad said, “We’re always thrilled to make a new park for Lexington. This addition is just one step we’re taking to meet the growing demand for more park space in Lexington.”
The last park added by Lexington Parks & Recreation was Isaac Murphy Memorial Garden in 2007. Buckhorn Park comes at the perfect time, as Lexington’s population continues to increase. Mown walking paths, picnic space, new trees, seating and an open lawn play area will all be in the new park. Plans also include naturalized basins designed to treat stormwater run-off. The park will open when current construction finishes, likely in early 2020.
