LEXINGTON – The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is launching the East End Renaissance Fund at the Blue Grass Community Foundation to support revitalization projects in the historic neighborhood – and is asking the community to join in the effort.
The fund will help realize several recommendations from the East End Small Area Plan, a blueprint to take the downtown neighborhood into the future. EHI Consulting developed the plan for the East End after multiple community-input sessions facilitated by the Blue Grass Community Foundation’s Legacy Center. The East End Renaissance Fund will support neighborhood signage improvements, beautification projects, the identification of historical sites and properties and housing rehabilitation.
“The revitalization of the East End neighborhood of Lexington was identified through a community process in 2007 as one of the best ideas to ready the city for the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games while leaving a legacy that outlives the event,” said Laura Williams, Lexington program director for Knight Foundation. “The community recognized the importance of this historic area with strong ties to the equine industry. I now ask that the neighborhood, local businesses, and broader community join me in supporting the East End Renaissance.”
Knight Foundation is kicking off the fund with a $5,000 donation, and hopes to raise a minimum of $25,000 from the community.
“The East End is truly experiencing a rebirth, with the new community school, upcoming restoration of the Lyric Theatre, Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden and many neighborhood-generated community gardens and clean-up efforts,” said First District Councilperson Andrea James. “The residents are taking on pieces of the small area plan to ensure its success and improve their quality of life. The East End Fund will provide a boost to these grassroots activities.”
Anyone interested in contributing to the East End Renaissance Fund can contact Barbara Fischer at the Blue Grass Community Foundation at 859-225-3343 or at [email protected].
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation advances journalism in the digital age and invests in the vitality of communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Knight Foundation focuses on projects that promote community engagement and lead to transformational change. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org.