Downtown Lexington park behind Rupp Arena raises another $2 million for playground
A new playground is going up in Lexington’s new privately funded downtown park, thanks to a $2 million donation.
The privately funded Gatton Park, which has raised more than $55 million to date,announced that the playground be named in honor of the gift from the Lexington-based Triangle Foundation, which spearheaded the development of Triangle Park in the 1980s.
The new Adventure Playground coming to Gatton Park behind Rupp Arena will be ADA-accessible. The one-third acre playground features the Gristmill Tower, sponsored by Misdee and James Miller, with a 27-foot slide and multiple climbing features. The playground also will include a family picnic area, log jams, spinning light posts, a four-prong slide and a toddler play area.
The nine-acre park is expected to open between High Street and Main Street behind Central Bank Center’s Rupp Arena in late summer or early fall of this year. Originally named Town Branch Park, it has been in the works for a decade.
The donation will launch the park’s financial sustainability initiative, which ensures funds to keep the park maintained for decades since it is not eligible for the new park tax for city-run public parks, which passed in the November election.
“Annual sustainability funds and growing our endowment will be critical components of what will make the park a long-lasting success,” said Ann Bakhaus, chair of the park’s board. “Gatton Park is set up as a park conservancy, which is a private, non-profit organization that supports, develops, operates and maintains the park. Although it’s a first for Lexington, the park conservancy model currently operates in most large U.S. cities to ensure parks are safe, active and well-maintained.”
This story was originally published January 17, 2025 at 2:24 PM.