Lexington city council members spent more than four hours Thursday, working to pin down decisions regarding federal coronavirus recovery dollars. The proposed construction of a sports complex was again discussed. Council Member Preston Worley supports the public-private partnership idea. “You have an opportunity to leverage city money in a way that may never, ever happen. We may never have another opportunity like this,” said Worley.
Ten million dollars in ARPA money would join private investments to build the sports complex. Also moved along was $9 million toward the establishment of a permanent farmer’s market in the Davis Bottom area. Jennifer Reynolds says that’s an opportunity to impact this downtown area once home to a large, diverse, low-income community. “In a location that’s accessible and that could really transform not just the neighborhoods, but that intersection there at Oliver Lewis Way,” said Reynolds.
Vice Mayor Steve Kay said the indoor farmer’s market development could be the most important step for the regional farmer movement in the central part of the state. A final decision on what will remain on the ARPA list is pending. That could come next week or after the Christmas break.
