Master Plan Complete and Kelley's Landing Opens to the Public

Kelley’s Landing is open, advancing access to the Kentucky River and the vision for this site. Mayor Linda Gorton, Councilmembers, Parks & Recreation staff, the Fund for Greater Lexington, and other partners marked Lexington’s first public river access point with a celebration.

The opening comes alongside the release of the Kelley’s Landing Master Plan, which provides a clear roadmap for the site's future. Supported by a $175,000 investment from the Fund for Greater Lexington and led by Gresham Smith, the plan has been shaped by strong community input. More than 2,000 people were surveyed, and over 60 stakeholder groups helped inform the vision through public meetings, events, and pop-ups. That matters. It shows this is not just a park project. It is a community vision rooted in a real desire to reconnect people with the river.

What’s open now already matters: trails, green space, wooded areas, and river access for kayaks and canoes, all set against the Kentucky River palisades. The real breakthrough is potential. The master plan envisions more walking trails, restrooms, a river overlook, a fishing pier, picnic areas, and features to establish Kelley’s Landing as a place for recreation, reflection, and connection.

There is history here. The land carries the name of John Kelley, whose family bought it in 1924 and ran a general store, then a boat dock, for decades. Since the city took ownership in 2022, the site has been cleaned up and made ready for the public.

Kelley’s Landing, Lexington’s fourth natural area park, opens a new chapter. Now, people can meet the river in a new way. The next step is to build on this foundation and bring the vision to life; honoring the beauty, history, and promise of this place.l.