Mayor Linda Gorton, Councilmember Jennifer Reynolds, community members and Lexington Parks & Recreation staff cut a ribbon Thursday to officially reopen a renovated and expanded neighborhood center at Valley Park – the Jesse Higginbotham Neighborhood Center.
“Neighborhood centers like this, located in parks around Lexington, play an important role in people’s lives, and in the life of the neighborhoods,” Gorton said. “They provide spaces for people to celebrate, remember, offer programs, make memories and have meetings that help shape and improve our community. The enhancements to this center will have a substantial impact on this neighborhood, and provide opportunities for years to come.”
The neighborhood center at Valley Park is used frequently, with regular rentals and community meetings held there each week. The construction has expanded the space, providing more opportunities for people in the Cardinal Valley neighborhood.
Eleventh District Councilmember Jennifer Reynolds, whose district includes Valley Park, said, “Parks are the heart of our community, and that has been true of Valley Park for a long time. Over the many years this park has existed, it has provided a gathering place for families and a center of activity for children. It has been our dream to grow this Jesse Higginbotham Neighborhood Center so that a larger number of diverse people can utilize it and call it home. My hope is that it will be an extension of home for those who live here in Cardinal Valley.”
