Earlier this week, the city officials broke ground on what will be Kentucky's first public river park, Kelley's Landing.

About one year ago, the city announced the purchase of the 30 acres along the Kentucky River. Now, thanks to a $150,000 investment from the Fund for Greater Lexington (part of the Blue Grass Community Foundation, work will officially begin on the master plan, which will be designed by firm Gresham Smith.

Located off Old Richmond Road, near the I-75 bridge into Madison County, Kelley's Landing will be the first real public access to the river. By using the funding for its master plan, the city can begin mapping out the park, surveying what the community wants, and study how to utilize the land to its full potential, while maintaining preservation.

An overlook of the Kentucky River | Photo by The LEXtoday

What to expect

During the master plan phase, the city will survey the public and open opportunities for community feedback. As of now, the park is anticipated to open this fall, where Lexingtonians can enjoy access to 12 miles of canoeing + kayaking, nature trails, wooded areas, and more.

The history of The Fund for Greater Lexington

In case you didn't know, the Blue Grass Community Foundation was created in 1967 to help fund the community's aspirations, particularly when it comes to connecting public projects and charities to funding.

The Fund for Greater Lexington is one of nine endowment funds part of the foundation, focusing on providing:

Cultural access
Green spaces
Youth support
Transportation
Affordable housing

“As we learned more about the potential of the Kelley property, we realized this is a perfect match for our intent to catalyze a transformative project to benefit our entire community," said Brent Bruner, advisory board member at the Fund for Greater Lexington.