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Council hears updates on Winburn road extension, Meadowbrook lease renewal and downtown park sign funding
Summary
At the Aug. 19 work session the council received updates on the Winburn extension (right-of-way and Department of Interior land-swap approvals still pending), approved renewal of the Meadowbrook Golf Course lease, and confirmed the park sign will be paid from a council capital transfer initiated by Councilmember Legree.
LEXINGTON, Ky. — During new business at the Aug. 19 Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council work session, staff provided updates and council members asked questions about three separate items: the Winburn extension project, a lease renewal for Meadowbrook Golf Course, and funding for an artistic sign at a new downtown park.
Winburn extension: City staff described outstanding right-of-way negotiations and a required land-swap approval from the U.S. Department of Interior before construction can proceed. Staff said two right-of-way agreements remain to be finalized; once those and minor design adjustments are complete, construction can be scheduled. The project team also reported discovery of drainage concerns that will be addressed with a detention basin added to the design to avoid worsening downstream flooding at Green Acres neighborhood.
"We have two outstanding right of way purchases ... This still has another step where we have to go to the Department of Interior and get approval for the land swap portion of this," staff said. Staff could not provide a firm construction start date because of timing uncertainty on right-of-way acquisitions and federal approval; they estimated that if the Department of Interior approval and remaining negotiations proceed on an expedited timetable, construction could be bid next fall for work the following spring.
Meadowbrook Golf Course lease renewal: In response to council questions, staff confirmed the item before council is a lease renewal for Meadowbrook Golf Course. Staff said Meadowbrook hosts an estimated 18,000–20,000 rounds per year and is the city’s busiest par‑3 course, with high league play. The renewal preserves approximately 25 acres of municipal golf footprint under an existing lease arrangement.
Downtown park sign funding: Councilmember Savigny asked whether the new artistic sign at the downtown park was part of the original contract and how it was funded. Staff said the sign project was initiated by Councilmember Legree’s office and financed through a council capital transfer to parks for an artistic signage package. "It came from Councilmember Legree's Capital Funds," staff said.
No formal votes on these items were recorded during the new-business update aside from approval of new-business order of the meeting.
Councilmembers said they appreciated staff outreach and asked that the Winburn project team continue neighborhood meetings and drainage updates as right-of-way issues proceed.
