Kelley’s Landing Park

Helping Shape the Future of Lexington’s First Riverfront Park

Kelley’s Landing is a 30-acre public park along the Kentucky River in Lexington, creating Fayette County’s first public river access and a new gateway to the Kentucky River Palisades.

Through Explore Kentucky, I worked alongside Gresham Smith, CivicLex, and Lexington Parks & Recreation on the park’s master planning process, helping lead community engagement through public events, stakeholder meetings, surveys, and outreach. The process engaged more than 60 organizations and generated over 2,000 survey responses, helping shape a community-driven master plan that received a 2026 Merit Award from the Kentucky Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Today, I serve as a fundraising consultant for the Support Kelley’s Landing Taskforce, leading fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and partnership development. The project has attracted more than $1 million in public and private investments and commitments toward implementing the park’s master plan. Working closely with Lexington Parks & Recreation, I also co-wrote and developed two major federal grant applications totaling $1.25 million through the Land and Water Conservation Fund and Recreational Trails Program. Both applications were submitted in fall 2026, with funding decisions expected in spring 2027.

Beyond the park itself, Kelley’s Landing is helping lay the groundwork for a larger vision of the Kentucky River as a 257-mile water trail connecting communities, recreation, conservation, and economic opportunity.