Survey request for Charles Young Park

Council Member Hannah LeGris has forwarded this request from Michell Kosieniak, superintendent of planning and design for the city’s Parks & Recreation department, about Charles Young Park near the corner of Midland Avenue and East Third Street:

Dear Neighbor,

To improve our communities, we know that we must work together. Our partnership of community organizations, that includes Lexington Parks and Recreation, Charles Young Advisory Board, and the Blue Grass Community Foundation, value your input, and we appreciate your thoughts about public spaces, such as parks, trails, libraries, community centers, etc.

Who was Col. Charles Young? Click on his portrait to find out more.

In particular, we would like area residents’ thoughts on Charles Young Park. As improvements are made to the park, we would like your feedback on their impact to you and this community. This survey should take less than 10 minutes. The survey will be open through the end of April, your input is appreciated!

As a thank you, responders are eligible to win a drawing for a gift card to a local business. All survey responses are kept anonymous.

Please click the link to take the survey. Thank you again for your time and input.

Easter Egg Hunt Saturday at 10 a.m. — Kids Will Need Big Baskets!

We look forward to seeing all Mentelle Neighborhood residents and their families Saturday at 10 a.m. for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. Thanks to the generosity of our neighbors, we have more than 800 eggs this year!

We will first gather in between the two medians closest to Cramer Avenue. Then, kids aged 5-10 will hunt on the first median (closest to Cramer) and those younger than 5 will hunt on the second median. Please remember that masks are required for everyone older than 2 and physical distancing from those not in your household is recommended to keep everyone safe.

If you live on Mentelle Park, please take a few minutes today to pick up sticks and other debris from the median in front of your home so no little ones get hurt.

See you at the hunt!

Giving eggs for the hunt? Hop to it!

If you wish to donate plastic eggs — preferably filled with pieces of wrapped candy — for the Mentelle Easter Egg Hunt on April 3, please bring them to the porch of 29 Mentelle Park. Donations will be accepted all next week, but no later than Friday, April 2.  We would love to have at least 400 eggs to make this a fun event for our neighborhood’s children.

The hunt will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 3, on the Mentelle Park medians near Cramer Avenue. There will be two hunts — one for little kids through age 4 and one for bigger kids between ages 5-10.  Bigger kids will hunt on the median closest to Cramer and the little ones will hunt on the second median.

Masking for everyone over the age of 2 and physical distancing from those adults not in your household is required to ensure the safety of all participants. Thank you for doing your part to protect your neighbors! And while we would normally serve light refreshments at this event, this year we think it is best if everyone brings their own breakfast beverage with them.

We hope to see all Mentelle Neighborhood residents there!

Grants available for yard conservation

The Fayette County Conservation District has a backyard conservation program that provides Lexington residents a cost-share of up to $200 back for conservation efforts at home

If residents are planting a vegetable garden, planting a pollinator garden, installing a bat house, beehive, raingarden, rain barrels or compost bin — all of those things are eligible to be 50 percent reimbursed, up to $200 back.

Here’s what you have to do: Apply, wait for your approval, complete your projects within 60 days and submit photos and receipts. Click here for more info.

The Mentelle Easter Egg Hunt is back!

Please join us for our annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 3, at 10 a.m. on the Mentelle Park medians near Cramer Avenue. The egg hunts — one for little kids up to age 4 and one for bigger kids between ages 5 – 10 — begin at 10 a.m. Bigger kids will hunt on the median closest to Cramer and the little ones will hunt on the second median.

Masking for everyone over the age of 2 and physical distancing from those adults not in your household is required to ensure the safety of all participants. Thank you for doing your part to protect your neighbors! And while we would normally serve light refreshments at this event, this year we think it is best if everyone brings their own breakfast beverage with them.

Donations of eggs are gladly accepted! If you would like to contribute to the event, please bring plastic eggs (preferably filled with a piece of wrapped candy) in a bag to the porch of 29 Mentelle Park no later than Friday, April 2. We would love to have at least 400 eggs to make this a truly fun and special event for the children of the neighborhood.

We hope to see all Mentelle Neighborhood residents there!

Midland Avenue construction update

Here is an update on the Town Branch Commons project on our end of town from Brandi Peacher, project management director in the mayor’s office, and Third District Council Member Hannah LeGris:

  • Construction activities for Town Branch Commons will begin on Midland Avenue starting March 24.
  • Traffic will be impacted along Midland Avenue starting the week of March 29.
  • One lane inbound and two lanes outbound will be in place at all times following restriping.
  • During peak morning rush, two lanes will be opened on Midland.
  • Left turns onto Midland Avenue from Winchester Road will be reduced to one left turn lane.
  • Lewis Street will be closed at Midland starting in April.
  • Lewis Street at Midland will temporarily be closed through July. No thru traffic will be permitted, but local traffic and construction traffic requiring access on Lewis Street will be accommodated.
  • Other cross streets may temporarily close during construction, but coordination with adjacent businesses will occur in advance.
  • To stay up to date on construction activities, sign-up for project and construction text alerts by texting TBCommons to 888777.  Visit the project website at  www.lexingtonky.gov/townbranchcommons. Follow LexWrecks on twitter for traffic alerts related to construction. For more information contact townbranch@lexingtonky.gov

Apply now for city street tree help

April 1 is the deadline to apply for the city’s cost-share tree planting program.  The voluntary program assists homeowners with street tree removal and replacement. Street trees grow in the public right-of-way between street and sidewalk; property owners are responsible for their care.
Homeowners can receive matching funds for tree removal, stump grinding and new tree installation. The work must be completed by May 31. Click here for an application and program guidelines.