City officially opens Kelley’s Landing, Lexington’s first park with public river access

Mayor Linda Gorton, Councilmembers, Lexington Parks & Recreation staff, Fund for Greater Lexington, and other organizations and attendees, cut a ribbon this morning to officially open Lexington’s new river park – Kelley’s Landing, Lexington’s first public access to the river.

“We’re so excited to officially open Kelley’s Landing. It’s a goal I’ve been working toward since my first day in the Mayor’s Office,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “This offers Lexington’s first public river access, and beautiful views of the Kentucky River palisades.”

Gorton said the park now offers trails, green space, wooded areas, and river access for kayaks and canoes. The park, located at 8949 Old Richmond Road, is open to the public, dawn to dusk.

“The future is even more exciting,” she said. “The Fund for Greater Lexington has invested in a master plan that was released today that gives us a roadmap of what features the community wants to see in the future here at the park.” The plan was overseen by design firm Gresham Smith.

“The Fund for Greater Lexington is proud to partner with Lexington Parks & Recreation to advance the Kelley’s Landing Master Plan through our $175,000 investment,” said Noa Gimelli, Co-Chair of the Fund. “This site on the Kentucky River, known for its natural beauty and rich history, is poised to become a vital community gathering place. Gresham Smith’s plan started with listening to the community, and the results are reflected in the park’s thoughtful design—with trails to walk, places to play and access to the Kentucky River. We are excited to see the master plan complete and the park now open, and we remain committed to helping bring this transformative vision fully to life.”

The plan envisions more walking trails, bathrooms, a river overlook, fishing pier, and picnic area, among other recommendations.

Creating a master plan, an extensive study that is used as a guide during development, is critical to maximizing utilization of the park land, and ensuring the park meets the needs of the community, Gorton said. Master plans involve significant community input and engagement. The Kelley’s Landing Master Plan development surveyed over 2,000 people and engaged over 60 stakeholder groups through an online survey, public community events, and nine pop-up events.

Kelley’s Landing is named for the late John Kelley, who sold the property to the city in 2022. The Kelley Family purchased the property in 1924, and ran a general store there. When recreational boating boomed in the 1960s and 70s, the family opened a boat dock, which was a popular destination. Kelley ran the dock until the late 1980s, when his focus shifted to the family farm.

Since the city purchased the property, significant clean-up has been done to remove partially collapsed buildings, old boats, and debris the river had washed ashore over the years.

“With the addition of Kelley’s Landing, the 12th District is now home to three natural area parks,” said 12th District Councilmember Hil Boone, whose district includes Kelley’s Landing. “These spaces not only provide a beautiful place to enjoy nature, but also underscore the vital importance of conserving our natural land in rural Fayette County. My family and I can’t wait to spend time at Kelley’s Landing this summer, and I’m excited to watch its continued development and evolution through future phases.”

The park is the fourth park to be designated a natural area park in Lexington, joining Raven Run Nature Sanctuary (3885 Raven Run Way), McConnell Springs Park (416 Rebmann Lane), and Hisle Farm Park (3601 Briar Hill Road). The mission of Lexington’s natural areas is to preserve the beauty of the Kentucky Bluegrass Region, along with remnants of early Kentucky history. They contain a variety of native flora and fauna, important historical features, and cultural connections. They also provide refuge for visitors seeking solitude or outdoor experiences with a range of physical and psychological benefits.

“We are beyond thrilled to add Kelley’s Landing to our park system as our newest natural area park,” said Monica Conrad, Director of Lexington Parks & Recreation. “Having public river access as a recreational opportunity is an exciting addition to our already expansive list of programs and offerings. The picturesque views of the palisades are not only a feature to be enjoyed by our community, but a new highlight for tourism, as well. We are grateful to Fund for Greater Lexington for its support throughout this process, for funding the park’s master plan, and for being so invested in its future.”

For rules and regulations, additional historical information, and to view the master plans, visit lexingtonky.gov/kelleyslanding.

About Lexington Parks & Recreation

Parks & Recreation, a division of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, oversees the programming, maintenance, and development of over 100 city parks and natural areas, six pools, five golf courses, community centers, recreational programs, and three arts venues. To find out more, follow @LexKYParks on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for the email newsletter.

About the Fund for Greater Lexington

The Fund for Greater Lexington is a permanent community endowment, an always-growing charitable resource investing in transformative community projects and addressing critical needs that improve the quality of life for all of Lexington. The Fund for Greater Lexington is one of nine endowed community funds at Blue Grass Community Foundation. Learn more and give at bgcf.org/FGL.