exington Park officials are working to form community partnerships to help with programming and facilities planning. The matter was discussed earlier this week during the city council's General Government and Social Services Committee meeting. Council member Amanda Mays-Bledsoe says park interests vary throughout Lexington. "Not every kid in certain neighborhoods need ballparks,” said Mays-Bledsoe. “They might need softball fields. They might need just green space for kickball or for Frisbee golf. So, I'm encouraging not just to improve what we already have."
Officials are finalizing the city's park "barring policy." Once implemented, people who commit serious infractions or are repeat offenders could be banned from parks for specified time periods. Chris Cooperrider is parks deputy director. "People in the park not doing good things, it leaves a void,” he said. “That's when other individuals come, hang out, and perform bad behaviors. And that's what we want to stop. We want people in there doing good things, enjoying themselves, enjoying their park."
Cooperrider says barring policy signage will soon be posted. He says the department is in the process of finalizing training for police and park employees. ?
