Lexington community projects once again are set to receive a financial windfall thanks to the city’s historical connection to the Knight media empire.
This year’s Knight Cities Challenge winners include a plan to enhance programming at the Lexington Public Library and nearby Phoenix Park, and an experimental project that will gather data and public input on city services at the downtown Transit Center with an eye toward bolstering the planned Town Branch Commons urban park.
“The Lexington Knight Cities Challenge winners are capitalizing on their city’s great strengths — a vibrant downtown, talented people and rich history — to create new opportunities for growth and development,” said Lilly Weinberg, Knight Foundation director for community programs. “The projects focus on breaking down barriers between residents across backgrounds and income levels, while bringing people together to ensure inclusive city building.”
The top winner this year is for a project by the Lexington Public Library and was awarded $150,200. Development officer Anne Donworth submitted the project, called Phoenix Forward, which aims to transform Phoenix Park and the Central Library into a place for children and families from diverse backgrounds to learn and play together.
“Our whole idea is to try to invigorate Phoenix Park and the Central Library,” she said. “The library is a lot more than books and desks these days. Part of the plan is try to bring the park in and the library out.”
Donworth said the money will allow the library to hire an urban planner and that Knight Foundation connections are likely to provide candidates.
Donworth said the programming duties would be shared by Central Library manager Rob Parmley and Lexington Parks and Recreation’s deputy director of recreation, Penny Ebel. Donworth said the Knight money will provide programming for two months and that she expected that to occur next summer.
Lexington’s other winning project this year is the Parking Lot Diaries by the Lexington Downtown Development Authority, which was awarded $87,200. Submitted by LDDA President and COO Jeff Fugate, the project will use the parking lot across from the Transit Center to field test and evaluate the usefulness of services for Lexington’s downtown community members — particularly those who depend on public transit.
“What this is is a set of experiments,” Fugate said. “We’ll be trying out things like seating arrangements, access to food trucks and vendors, trying to find out which amenities are making a difference.”
Fugate said they are working with consultants from a nonprofit group, 8 80 Cities, which he described as experts in conducting public experiments and gathering data. He said it would allow them to try out ideas before deciding which ones deserve bigger investments.
“One of the little secrets of downtown is the sheer volume of people who pass through transit system each day,” Fugate said, pegging the number at 15,000 riders each day with about 800 per hour transferring at the center. The goal of the project, which he said would be conducted next spring, is to gain insights into what these commuters need, such as easier ability to manage grocery shopping, as well as ideas for programming for Town Branch Commons.
Fugate said the Knight award is welcome both as a funding source and validation of Lexington’s status as a city that’s becoming known for its governance and civic involvement.
“Sometimes when you’re in a place, you’re not completely confi dent of what others think of you,” he said. “But the truth is the Knight people are really excited and intrigued by what we’re doing here. ... I’m particularly honored — but not surprised — that a national funder is really taking a hard look at Lexington.”
Donworth agreed, noting Knight’s involvement is particularly helpful because they specifi cally fund experimental programs where many donors insist on long track records or immediate results.
“This is really one of the largest foundations anywhere, and the fact that it has such a strong tie to Lexington is amazing,” she said. “But it’s really unusual to have a donor that’s comfortable saying, ‘Try it, see if it works, experiment.’ ”
The Knight Cities Challenge is sponsored by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The program, in its second year, provides $5 million to community and economic development projects in cities where Knight once owned newspapers, including Lexington where it is the former owner of the Herald-Leader.
Last year the North Limestone Community Development Corporation landed the competition’s second-largest grant — $550,000 — to help create a food hub and small-business incubator in the former Greyhound bus terminal on North Limestone. That project is still in development, with NoLi CDC working to secure funds to purchase the property from its current owner, LexTran.