Lexington opens first regional park in decades with trails, pickleball courts & more
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- Cardinal Run Park North opened in 2025 with trails, courts, playgrounds and dog park.
- City allocated $10 million of ARPA funds in 2022 to start park development.
- Four multipurpose fields will open in spring 2026, expanding athletic access.
The first large, regional park to be built in Lexington in more than 25 years is now open to the public.
Officials gathered at Cardinal Run Park North, at 2075 Parkers Mill Road, Thursday morning for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the city’s newest park. It includes 2 miles of natural hiking trails, a mile of paved shared-use trail, six pickleball courts, a basketball court, a large playground, dog park, two picnic shelters and other amenities.
There are also four multipurpose fields the city plans to open this spring.
“This is all about quality of life for people in Lexington,” Mayor Linda Gorton said at the ceremony. “Our parks are filled with opportunities for residents and visitors alike to get outside, to enjoy the beauty of Lexington and be active.”
The park, located in Lexington’s 12th District, covers 137.6 acres and borders Cardinal Run Park South, which is in the 10th District and has been open since the early 2000s. The two parks are connected by a crosswalk across Parkers Mill Road.
“Free open spaces are really what residents want to connect with nature, with their friends, with family, with their pets,” Councilmember David Sevigny, who represents the 10th District, said Thursday.
The nearly 140 acres was donated to the city in 1997, but due to a lack of funding, remained untouched for decades. That changed in 2022 when the city received $121 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding and allocated $10 million for the first phase of Cardinal Run Park North.
Brandstetter Carroll developed the park plans using feedback from 900 residents and Lexington park users. The survey showed high interest in nature trails, a playground, various sports courts and fields and a dog park. Construction began in October 2023.
“We reached this milestone thanks to the hard work of our dedicated parks team, the commitment of Mayor Gorton and the support from current and previous Urban County Councils,” 12th District Councilmember Hil Boone said. “Crucially, we owe the deepest gratitude to our community members and stakeholders, many of whom live right here in the 12th District, whose input shaped every element of this special design.”
Gorton also praised Monica Conrad, director of parks and recreation, for her work.
“Leadership means everything, especially in a division like this that is constantly working to open new facilities and put on all those programs that we talked about earlier and just in general make this a better place for people who live here,” Gorton said.
Cardinal Run Park North is the third park to open in Lexington within the last few months. In August, Gatton Park on Town Branch opened after years of planning and construction. About a month later, Phoenix Park reopened in downtown Lexington after a $4.6 million renovation.
Parks and recreation officials will host a grand opening party at Cardinal Run Park North Friday, Oct. 17. There will be food and drink trucks at the playground and dog park, live music, a nature program and more.
Combined with Cardinal Run Park South, which totals 54.6 acres, the two parks provide 192.2 acres of public space, making the combo the fifth-largest regional park in the city. Filling out the top five are Masterson, Veterans, Jacobson and Coldstream parks.
“Cardinal Run Park North is far more than just adding acreage to our system of parks; it’s a vital investment in the quality of life for the entire community,” Boone said. “The park directly addressed the need for active recreation, providing a fantastic new regional hub that will bring neighbors together and encourage healthy activities for families, residents and visitors alike.”
This story was originally published October 9, 2025 at 2:40 PM.
