Lexington, KY - I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful summer. We've been blessed with plenty of rain in Lexington and some very mild weather, to this point. I hope you've had an opportunity to enjoy the live jazz at Ecton Park on Tuesday evenings. If not, pack a picnic basket, a comfy chair and head to the park to hear the wonderful music and visit with your friends and neighbors. The turnout this year has been especially good so we've increased the restroom facilities by adding a couple of portable bathrooms. Parking is still fairly limited, so if you can walk a few blocks or ride a bike that would be very helpful. This free concert begins at 7 p.m. and goes until 8:30 p.m. every Tuesday through Aug. 18.
A new project that I'll be working on over the next several months is to chair a special task force to analyze funding needs for our parks system. Our parks, according to Jerry Hancock, director of Parks and Recreation for LFUCG, are of the '70s vintage and need serious work. As many of you are aware, new families relocating from other areas look for certain amenities in selecting a new city for their home. One of those is a good parks system. Since our budgets are extremely tight, particularly in these difficult economic times, we must be creative in identifying funding sources for our parks. If you have ideas you may have seen implemented in other cities, please send me an e-mail. I'm certain that if we all work together, we can have a top-rated parks system here in the beautiful Bluegrass.
I'd like to recognize the Kenwick Neighborhood Association for another wonderful Bungalow Tour last month. If you haven't had an opportunity to participate in touring this unique neighborhood, watch for it next year. You'll be very impressed. I'd also like to recognize the Ashland Neighborhood Association for it's wonderful entry in the 4th of July parade focusing on the beautiful gardens of Ashland. They won first prize for their entry and $1,000 to be spent on further beautifying their neighborhood. Congratulations.
Something that may be of interest to many of you is a new Downtown Lexington Inventory of all the historic buildings and homes within 34 blocks of the downtown, roughly bounded by Jefferson Street, Martin Luther King Blvd., Second Street and High Street. Recently completed by the Division of Historic Preservation, it will be presented to the LFUCG Historic Preservation Commission on Sept. 16. This inventory will serve as a base of information to reference in future discussions and decisions regarding the downtown area.
As school begins at Morton, Cassidy and Christ the King, please be aware of the new four-way stop at Providence and Colony if you're driving in the area. When it was first installed, it took a number of days for drivers to get accustomed to the new stop sign. Drivers who have not been in the area over the summer may also need a few days to recognize the new stop sign. Please be extra cautious as you drive, walk or ride a bike in that area.
Finally, I hope you visit the new LFUCG Web site, www.lexingtonky.gov, from time to time to see all the great things that are happening around town. There are a number of opportunities for you to serve on committees of interest to you. Please take a look at the options and let me know if you would like to get more involved.