Council approves six-month MOU allowing University of Kentucky Army ROTC limited training at Hysel Farm Park

Lexington City Council approved a six-month memorandum of understanding (MOU) on July 3, 2025, authorizing the University of Kentucky Army ROTC to use Hysel Farm (also referred to in the record as Bridal Farm/Bridal Park) for limited training, by a roll-call vote of 8 in favor, 5 opposed and 1 recusal.

The vote followed public comment from residents and gun-violence survivors who urged the council to bar weapons-related exercises from public parks and a lengthy council discussion about balancing a long-standing relationship with UK ROTC against community trauma and park uses.

Councilmember Vice Mayor Wu moved to amend the proposed MOU down from a one-year term to a six-month agreement expiring December 31, 2025; Councilmember Morton seconded that amendment. Parks staff and the Parks and Recreation commissioner described the negotiated terms: access would be limited to once per week for up to four hours (anticipated to be Wednesday mornings), and the agreement specifically prohibits anything capable of discharging projectiles, allowing only non‑functional training aids such as rubber rifles. Commissioner Ford summarized the weapons restriction in the draft MOU: “UK Army ROTC will use training aids to include rubber rifles that do not have the ability to discharge any kind of ammunition or projectile.”

The decisio…