A new neighborhood water feature is coming to Lexington’s East End. A $900,000 collaborative grant from the Bluegrass Community Foundation will fund design and construction of Splash!
Parks and Recreation Director Monica Conrad said the nature inspired water feature will be a connective fabric between the Charles Young Park playground and Town Branch Commons Trail. Conrad said a group of young people from the East End has been engaged to offer their thoughts. “It probably won’t be your traditional bucket splashpad that we’ve seen at Masterson or Douglas Park. But, it will be something that involves water,” said Conrad.
Conrad noted there’s a need to increase access to water in this section of Lexington and, she added, hopefully the project will bring kids out to enjoy the water. Conrad said there will always be a need for swimming pools as well as splash pad type features. “It’s really important that we still maintain pools, traditional pools in a sense so that we can ensure children have an opportunity to learn how to swim. That is one of those life lessons that we need to make sure that we’re making available to everyone. Swimming lessons and able to learn that skill,” explained Conrad.
The Charles Young Park playground is expected to be completed in the next month or so. The water feature is targeted for completion the end of next year.
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