Don’t Let the Wealthy Hijack Lexington’s Future: Vote NO on the Parks Tax this November

Make no mistake: the proposed Park Tax on Lexington’s ballot this November, called the “Parks Funding Ballot Initiative” by its supporters, is not about improving parks for everyone. It’s being sold as a public good, but the reality behind it reveals a troubling pattern of secrecy, elitism, and misplaced priorities. It’s being driven by the richest people in Lexington to enhance property values, push working-class families out of the city, and divert resources away from programs that support the poor—such as rent assistance, public housing, and services for the homeless. This is all part of a broader trend of gentrification that seeks to reshape the city to serve the interests of those who already have the most.

The Bluegrass Community Foundation (BCF), which is the fiscal sponsor of this initiative, is a group made up of Lexington’s wealthiest, most powerful elite like VisitLex President Mary Quinn Ramer and billionaire David Kloiber. The initiative also enjoys public support from organizations like Trust for Public Land, CivicLex, Trees Lexington, and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. But don’t be fooled: these groups are advancing a plan that serves the interests of the elite, not the broader community.

Lexington recently experienced firsthand how the Parks Department handles a large influx of investment—over $26 million in ARPA funds were spent on parks, with those investments predominantly benefiting the wealthiest areas. This starkly revealed the Parks Department’s true priorities, shattering the illusion for many that it operates as a benevolent entity serving all residents equally. The shortsighted allocation of these funds has opened eyes in the community, and it’s possible that those backing this initiative have overplayed their hand. We now have a genuine opportunity to defeat it—if we mobilize and spread the word.

Under the Park Tax’s funding model, the money raised could only be used for “capital outlays”—new construction and flashy upgrades. It cannot be used for the regular upkeep or staffing of parks, which means ongoing costs like watering trees and mowing will inevitably fall on the city’s operating budget. Supporters of the initiative love to highlight that funds cannot be used to acquire new parkland, but they omit the fact that we already have three undeveloped parks sitting idle in Lexington: Cardinal Run North, Kelley’s Landing, and a recently donated horse farm on Paris Pike. These projects will certainly get funded—with all the future upkeep costs falling squarely on the shoulders of the city operating budget—diverting money that could have gone to impactful social programs. Funds that could have helped a single mother avoid eviction will instead be used to mow grass in a new park.

And who’s behind this initiative? The Bluegrass Community Foundation—an organization led by the very people who stand to benefit from rising property values and increased gentrification. The tax increase will be negligible for them, a mere drop in the bucket. But for a retiree on a fixed income in Cardinal Valley, it might be the last straw that forces them out of their home, possibly sold to a BCF-connected investor eager to flip it into an Airbnb, advertised as “next to a newly upgraded park.”

Even before the initiative officially launched, the organizers engaged in underhanded tactics designed to keep the public in the dark. At a public meeting of the Parks Advisory Board on September 27, 2023, Parks Director Monica Conrad admitted that negotiations were underway with BCF regarding the initiative. When I requested a copy of the agenda for that meeting, I was provided with a redacted version—a blatant attempt to prevent the Lexington Times from reporting on their secretive plans. This kind of evasion is a gross violation of Kentucky’s Open Meetings Act, but these types of violations have become almost routine in Lexington’s city government, leaving residents to “pick their battles” while transparency suffers.

Lexington’s Parks Funding Ballot Initiative is not what it seems. It’s a mechanism for those with influence and wealth to reshape our city at the expense of those who need support the most. This initiative will not make our community fairer or more equitable—it will only deepen the divide between the haves and have-nots. We must stand against this misuse of public funds and insist on real investments that benefit everyone, not just the wealthy few. Vote NO on the proposed Parks Tax this November, and spread the word to protect Lexington’s future.