Imagining the possibilities for Lexington’s Phoenix Park – that’s the goal of a pilot project that just received the blessing of the Knight Cities Challenge.
Once home to the historic Phoenix Hotel, the park bordered by the Lexington Public Library’s Central Library, the Park Plaza Apartments, and the corner of Main and Limestone plays host to diverse crowds and different interests. The centermost point in Lexington attracts a number of popular festivals and public events, which often share the space with poor and homeless regulars who congregate there.
Making the downtown hangout work for all - whether that means extending the library's reach outside or enticing pedestrians to check out the offerings inside - is the challenge facing the Phoenix Forward project.
"People come to events and classes in the library and they leave. We'd like to invite them to stay longer," says Ann Hammond with the library.
Phoenix Forward plans to use more than $150,000 in grant money gifted from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to bring in urban designers to rethink the space, largely with families in mind. Ideas range from a "book bike," displays, and wireless internet access to an off-duty police officer to keep tabs on the area.
Nearby, a separate Knight-supported endeavor will test out new services at and around the Transit Center to attract visitors. Downtown Development Authority President Jeff Fugate says the goal is similar.
"If you look at downtown Lexington, there's lots of people on the sidewalk... but most of them are going somewhere. What we don't have that you sometimes find in other cities is what we call 'stickiness,' which is: Do people stick around? Do they talk to each other? Do they hang out? That's what we're looking for here. We're looking for stickiness," Fugate explains.
Both projects are set to launch in summer 2017.
