Public raises concerns as city considers MOU allowing UK Army ROTC training in Hysel Park

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council considered a resolution for first reading to authorize a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of Kentucky Army ROTC to allow ROTC training in Hysel (Bridal) Park.

The matter drew sustained public comment from residents who said training exercises with rifles — even rubber or simulated ones — are jarring for park users and could distress people with trauma. Anita Courtney, identifying herself as a resident of District 3, said she and her daughters encountered cadets in camouflage during a park visit and that "I don't feel like the parks are an appropriate place for military exercise" and urged the council to vote against the agreement. David Cooper, another public commenter, added that while the group uses rubber rifles, "from a distance, you look you can't tell the difference," and said the use of the park for military training is "wholly incompatible with the peaceful use of the park by other Lexington residents." Chuck Eddy, speaking as a Moms Demand Action volunteer, said survivors of gun violence could be triggered by on-site military exercises and repeated that ROTC "need to find a different facility for their very" training.

University of Kentucky Army ROTC leadership and city staff responded at the meeting. Lieutenant Colonel Alan Overmyer, who identified himself as residing in District 4 and representing the ROTC program, said the exercises prepare cadets for required evaluations and eventual commissioning and that he was open to "an amicable solution" with more communication and controls. He offered program details, stating that "52% of our program is currently a simultaneous membership cadet" (referring to cadets also in the National Guard) and stressing the local recruitment and service pipeline.

Director Conrad of Lexington's parks staff told council members the city has allowed ROTC use of park space since 2016, formalized the arrangement in a 2021 MOA and that that agreement ended Jan. 1, 2025. Conrad said staff and ROTC have worked since then to refine proposed terms, including improved communication, on-site presence by staff when trainings occur, and clearer signage at park entrances. Conrad also said the training schedule was moved from afternoons to mornings to reduce conflicts with typical park use and noted on-site signage and website notices would be used.

The council read the resolution (item 37) into the record as a first reading: a proposed MOU with the University of Kentucky Army ROTC to allow the use of Hysel/Bridal Park for ROTC training at no cost to the city. The transcript records substantial public comment and staff explanation and shows the item presented for first reading; the transcript does not record a final council vote on that resolution during this meeting.

Why it matters: Hysel (Bridal) Park is used by walkers, bird watchers, families and others who described it as a "serene" public resource; neighbors and gun-violence-prevention advocates told council that visible military-style training exercises in a public park can alarm users and risk retraumatizing survivors. City staff and ROTC said the program supports local cadet training and that better notice and on-site coordination are intended to reduce disruption.

Next steps and council direction: The resolution was placed on the agenda for first reading and discussed at length. Staff committed to clearer, location-specific notice and improved on-site communication with ROTC for scheduled trainings; no final council action on the MOU is recorded in the transcript of this meeting.

Ending details: Public commenters suggested alternative venues (University-owned property or Bluegrass Station) and urged the council to pause or reject the MOU; ROTC and parks staff expressed willingness to modify operations and communications. The council did not take a formal recorded final vote on the MOU during the meeting.