As many are aware Lexington, KY and much of the surrounding region is running full bore in the planning, design and construction of projects for the upcoming Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. It is estimated that the Games will bring hundreds of thousands of people to Lexington, with millions more viewing on TV across the world. In the face of this deadline, Lexington has launched numerous planning efforts to improve the quality of life, physical environments and overall aesthetic of the urban and rural landscape to provide an enjoyable experience for all, while also getting some long awaited projects to fruition.
In this flurry of design and development, many public and private projects have graced our newspaper covers. Surely Lexington has never lost the community’s role in planning and design but I venture to say it has been many years since those voices have been loud enough to make the impact that they have recently. Several notable projects, including the Newtown Pike Extension, have demonstrated the increased attention to community dialogue about the city’s future that has typified recent planning efforts.
Our firm’s work on projects such as East End, the Lexington Distillery District, the Red Mile Development Plan and the Bluegrass Community and Technical College Newtown Pike Campus Plan have all heavily involved community groups, stakeholders and residents to make sure that where the design was heading was in agreement with the community’s vision. It is also important to note that each of these entities (private and public) have gone out of their way and spent money they are not necessarily required to spend in order to support a community dialogue.
While the planning and design “machine” still may have its kinks, I think it is important that one of those kinks, lack of public involvement, is being worked on. Each of us as individuals in the greater community bring differences in ideas and experience to the conversation, but we must speak up and when we do it is good to know someone is listening.
The public voice in full swing
posted by Louis Johnson on September 1st, 2009As many are aware Lexington, KY and much of the surrounding region is running full bore in the planning, design and construction of projects for the upcoming Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. It is estimated that the Games will bring hundreds of thousands of people to Lexington, with millions more viewing on TV across the world. In the face of this deadline, Lexington has launched numerous planning efforts to improve the quality of life, physical environments and overall aesthetic of the urban and rural landscape to provide an enjoyable experience for all, while also getting some long awaited projects to fruition.
In this flurry of design and development, many public and private projects have graced our newspaper covers. Surely Lexington has never lost the community’s role in planning and design but I venture to say it has been many years since those voices have been loud enough to make the impact that they have recently. Several notable projects, including the Newtown Pike Extension, have demonstrated the increased attention to community dialogue about the city’s future that has typified recent planning efforts.
Our firm’s work on projects such as East End, the Lexington Distillery District, the Red Mile Development Plan and the Bluegrass Community and Technical College Newtown Pike Campus Plan have all heavily involved community groups, stakeholders and residents to make sure that where the design was heading was in agreement with the community’s vision. It is also important to note that each of these entities (private and public) have gone out of their way and spent money they are not necessarily required to spend in order to support a community dialogue.
While the planning and design “machine” still may have its kinks, I think it is important that one of those kinks, lack of public involvement, is being worked on. Each of us as individuals in the greater community bring differences in ideas and experience to the conversation, but we must speak up and when we do it is good to know someone is listening.