The Keep Lexington Beautiful Commission (KLB), Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation (LCEF) and 5th District councilmember Bill Farmer have announced an initiative in support of KLB's mission to engage individuals in local community improvement and environmental projects, according to a press release.
The Lowe's/Keep America Beautiful Community Improvement Grant of $20,000 is one of 120 merit-based grants awarded nationally to support grassroots community improvements projects.
The LCEF grant will provide funding for a project in the Fontaine and Lakeshore Drive area of Richmond Road. The project includes the removal of bush honeysuckle that has overgrown a creek, followed by the pickup of litter and debris from the creek, and the installation of native plants in the area. Volunteers will be utilized later in October to remove the litter and debris from the creek, as well as install new plants.
"The grant from Lowe's will improve the aesthetics and environment in the Richmond Road corridor, one of our most-traveled roads in Lexington," Patricia Knight, chair of the KLB Commission, said. "We thank Lowe's for its generous support, as well as our other partners who are working together to make Lexington a great city."
"This cleanup represents an opportunity to not only enhance one of Lexington's main corridors, but to come together as a community to restore and reclaim part of our ecosystem on Richmond Road," councilmember Farmer said. "No amount of participation here is too small, and I encourage anyone interested to come out and take part."
To volunteer for the Oct. 20 stream cleanup event, click here to register. To volunteer for the Oct. 27 native plant installation, click here to register.
The grant program is being supported by Lowe's company-wide volunteerism effort, Lowe's Heroes.
Partners in the Richmond Road project are Keep Lexington Beautiful, Lowe's, Kentucky Utilities, Kentucky American Water, Greystone Management, Fayette County Public Schools Youth Sustainability Council, Henry Clay High School Go Green Team, Morton Middle School, Bluegrass PRIDE, EcoGro, the Idle Hour Neighborhood Association and LFUCG.
For more information on the Keep Lexington Beautiful Commission, visit www.keeplexingtonbeautiful.com.