Make no mistake: the proposed Park Tax on Lexington’s ballot this November, called the “Parks Funding Ballot Initiative” by its supporters, is not about improving parks for everyone. It’s being sold as a public good, but the reality behind it reveals a troubling pattern of secrecy, elitism, and misplaced priorities. It’s being driven by the richest people in Lexington to enhance property values, push working-class families out of the city, and divert resources away from programs that support the poor—such as rent assistance, public housing, and services for the homeless. This is all part of a broader trend of gentrification that seeks to reshape the city to serve the interests of those who already have the most.
The Bluegrass Community Foundation (BCF), which is the fiscal sponsor of this initiative, is a group made up of Lexington’s wealthiest, most powerful elite like VisitLex President Mary Quinn Ramer and billionaire David Kloiber. The initiative also enjoys public support from organizations like Trust for Public Land, CivicLex, Trees Lexington, and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. But don’t be fooled: these groups are advancing a plan that serves the interests of the elite, not the broader community.