Trails bustin’ out all over Lexington’s downtown

Trails are bustin’ out all over Lexington’s downtown, as construction this summer on Town Branch Commons, the Legacy Trail, and Town Branch Trail completes 22 miles of uninterrupted trails.

“The trail plans we’ve been working on for decades are really coming together this summer,” said Mayor Linda Gorton. “There will be new, exciting opportunities to get outside, and get some exercise.”   

The trails run through downtown, and link Lexington’s urban core to the beautiful Bluegrass beyond.

TOWN BRANCH COMMONS TRAIL
Town Branch Commons Trail is under construction downtown. The Trail will link Town Branch Trail and the Legacy Trail, creating 22 miles of uninterrupted trail. It will create a 5.5-mile loop downtown.

“This is more than a trail,” Gorton said. “It features continuous bike and walking paths. A lush green band through downtown, it will connect new and existing parks and diverse neighborhoods, and it will improve water quality.” In addition, plans for the trail’s construction call for tripling the number of trees along Vine Street and Midland Avenue.

The trail Runs along Midland Avenue from Third Street to Main Street, along Vine Street from East Main to the Lexington Center, and includes a trail connector along Newtown Pike from Manchester to Fourth Street. The connector along Newtown is nearing completion. Crews are currently finishing up working on Newtown Pike and starting work on Vine Street. Construction of Town Branch Commons trail is expected to be complete in 2022.

Town Branch Commons trail was designed by SCAPE, a leading landscape architecture firm based in New York. “Through all our years of work in Lexington, we've been inspired by the unique karst geology of the Bluegrass region, and the commitment of citizens to reclaim Vine Street as a place for people,” said Gena Wirth, RLA, Design Principal at SCAPE. “These are unique assets we hoped to champion through Town Branch Commons – a legacy public realm that can enhance the social space of the city, while remaining firmly rooted in the Kentucky landscape.”

The $20.1 million, two-mile trail and water quality project is funded by local, state and federal funds.

LEGACY TRAIL
The final 2 miles of the Legacy Trail are under construction from Fifth Street at Jefferson Street, to the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden at Third and Midland streets. It is expected to be complete by September and cost is estimated at $3.9 million.

“The Legacy trail offers opportunities to enjoy the Bluegrass landscape that has made us world famous,” Gorton said.

The Legacy Trail is the longest of the three trails … stretching from downtown to the Kentucky Horse Park. It is the only on-road facility in the downtown loop.

TOWN BRANCH TRAIL
Work began in 2005 on Town Branch Trail, which will connect downtown to the Distillery District, McConnell Springs, and Masterson Station Park. Along the way there are historic sites, neighborhoods and parks. The trail follows the westward course of the Town Branch of Elkhorn Creek.

The 1.2-mile section currently under construction stretches from Oliver Lewis Way to Forbes Road. Construction is expected to be complete in December. The $3.8 million project includes funds to save the James McConnell House, one of the oldest structures in the Bluegrass and built by one of the pioneer founders of Lexington.

Construction on another section of the trail begins this fall. It runs past the Fire Training Center on Old Frankfort Pike and connects to Masterson Station Park.

Playgrounds and individual basketball courts have reopened! 

“Children will need to wear masks and be encouraged to keep their distance from other children,” said Monica Conrad, Director of Parks and Recreation. “Parents should keep their children out of the playground if it is crowded.” Signage at each playground will warn visitors about the risks.

The City’s four spraygrounds will open in mid-July at Jacobson Park, Masterson Station Park, Douglass Park and Castlewood Park. “We can’t safely open the pools, but children will be able to cool off and have fun at spraygrounds,” Conrad said. Spraygrounds are interactive water features that are ideal for children of all ages. Designed to have no standing water, there is no lifeguard on duty, so parent supervision is required.

To keep the spraygrounds from becoming too crowded, parents will be required to reserve a block of time up to 1 hour and 45 minutes. More information will be provided on how to sign up as soon as a firm date for opening the spraygrounds is established. The same rules about masks and social distancing, apply.

Larger banks of courts, for example those at Douglass, Shillito and Constitution parks, will remain closed in the short-term.
 

Lexington Police now hiring!

The Lexington Police Department is now hiring! Men and women ages 21-36 with an interest in serving the community are encouraged to submit their application by the August 11 deadline at www.joinlexpolice.com.

“Law enforcement is a challenging and rewarding career,” Chief Lawrence Weathers said. “We’re looking for applicants who care about people, care about this city, and want to make a difference. Lexington Police has high expectations of its officers as we serve all of Lexington-Fayette County with compassion and integrity.”

No prior law enforcement experience is required. The department seeks diversity in our applicants that is reflective of the great community we are called upon to serve.  Those with varying skill sets, backgrounds, and life experiences who are committed to service should consider applying with the Lexington Police Department.

Selected candidates from this current hiring process will enter the Lexington Police Training Academy in Spring 2021. The training academy is an extensive 32-week program covering law, community policing, de-escalation and response to resistance techniques, crisis intervention, and many other topics. After graduation, officers complete a 15-week field training program and receive annual in-service training.

“Lexington Police is a nationally accredited agency. We are committed to providing tools, training, and services to help our officers be successful in the field while maintaining a healthy work-life balance,” Weathers said.

All applicants must take a written exam, physical fitness test, and a panel interview. Testing begins next week, with several dates available. Detailed information about the Lexington Police hiring process is available at www.joinlexpolice.com.

The Lexington-Fayette County Urban County Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The U.S. Census Bureau continues to monitor the impacts COVID-19 has on 2020 Census operations and follow guidance of federal, state and local health authorities to ensure the safety our staff and the public. The Census Bureau is ready to announce resumption of other operations in addition to the Update Leave operation and fingerprinting of new hires, which are already underway, in order to conduct a complete and accurate 2020 Census.   

As of June 12th, over 90 million households have responded to the 2020 Census, with over four in five households doing so online. People can still respond on their own online, over the phone or by mail — all without having to meet a census taker.
 

The Census Bureau will begin a soft launch to Nonresponse Followup.

The Census Bureau routinely “soft launches” operations to ensure systems, operations and field plans work as they should. Starting in mid-July, six area census offices (ACOs) (one per census region) will begin the operation of interviewing households that have yet to respond to the 2020 Census. The six ACOs will be announced by the end of June. Additional ACOs will be announced for a second wave soft launch to occur later in July.  Aside from ACOs that are part of the soft launch, all remaining ACOs will begin the Nonresponse Followup on August 11 and conclude no later than October 31.

All census takers will be trained on social distancing protocols. They will be issued PPE and will follow local guidelines for their use. Lexington is not a part of the soft launch. 
 

The Census Bureau will count people living in transitory locations in September.

Between September 3 and September 28, census takers will count people staying at campgrounds, RV parks, marinas and hotels if they do not usually live elsewhere. 
 

The Census Bureau’s Mobile Questionnaire Assistance (MQA) program is being modified to reflect the current environment. 

We anticipate that MQA staff may be able to resume offering in-person questionnaire response assistance in selected areas based on current health conditions. This program will also add to its portfolio of activities to include direct outreach efforts within the lowest responding neighborhoods throughout the nation. All Census Bureau staff involved in MQA will follow local guidelines with respect to PPE and social distancing.
 

The Census Bureau will continue its communications campaign through October 2020 — the end of 2020 Census data collection operations.

The Census Bureau has adapted the communications campaign and launched a series of new advertisements aimed at increasing online response to the 2020 Census while much of the nation remains at home practicing social distancing. Additional paid media is planned for July, August and September.

The expanded advertising campaign reaches new audiences in 33 languages, raising the total to 45 non-English languages receiving some level of paid media support. The expanded languages will receive some combination of paid search, print or digital advertisements.

In addition, the Census Bureau expanded the list of media vendors to increase Census Bureau reach of historically undercounted populations through paid advertising on digital, print, television and radio platforms.

The updates to operations outlined above all incorporate the latest federal, state and local guidelines regarding PPE and regulations. For the safety of our staff and the public, the Census Bureau has ordered PPE for all field staff, including those that work in a field office. These materials will be secured and provided to staff as operations begin. Census Bureau staff will follow local health official guidance when wearing PPE.

The Census Bureau will continue to update the public on 2020 Census operations. Visit the 2020 Census operational timeline for further details.
 

The results of the census determine your congressional representation as well as federal funding for states and communities. Every year, more than $675 billion goes toward hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and more.

It's also mandated by the Constitution: The United States has counted its population every 10 years since 1790.
 

Applications for employment that will begin later in the summer are still being accepted.  Census staff will be operating in compliance with the CDC guidelines.  For more information, visit 2020census.gov.

• The Georgetown Bridge is scheduled to be completed in mid to late August, then the grade and paving contractor will be able to complete the roadway approaches. The primary completion date for the project is December 30, 2020.
• Georgetown Bridge approaches were reported as unsafe - due to the asphalt settling, the contractor has wedged the ends with asphalt to provide a smoother transition

• Building demo is complete
• Windstream, Metro Net, Spectrum, Century Link and ATT are relocating their facilities. 
• Plans are to pave Manchester from the Norfolk Southern overpass to Oliver Lewis Way completing the majority of the east side of the project.
• Paving and trailwork to begin late July - Will complete at-grade trail from railroad overpass to Oliver Lewis Way
• Forbes Road culvert extension - To begin in late July once utilities are relocated
• Manchester/Forbes Road - Interchange work to begin in August and will involve short-term road closure of South Forbes. Local traffic to be maintained to businesses on Manchester and North Forbes.

Town Branch Trail Connector

Construction is progressing on schedule.

Work underway includes:

• All demo and drainage work is completed and new curb is expected to be completed this week from Main St to Fourth St
• During demo a historic foundation was uncovered. Archaeologists were called to the site for additional excavation, documentation, and research as deemed necessary by the State Historic Preservation Office and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
• Banner poles have been reinstalled in the new median and they will be replanted soon
• Work has started at Main Street and Oliver Lewis Way to widen the sidewalk for bike and pedestrian use and install additional safety measures near the bridge
• The new asphalt multi-use trail will be poured in place from Main Street to Maryland this week with regrading and cleanup to follow along these block
• Work will continue from Main Street to Fourth Street to install the new trail through the month of July
• Work should be complete by end of July

• Work is completed and Manchester Street is OPEN!!!! Thank you to everyone for your patience and understanding while the Division of Water Quality completed necessary sewer work.