Lexington’s newest water play area

a rendering

The proposed design of Splash! | Rendering provided by the City of Lexington

Yesterday, the city announced its plans to build a new water play zone in Charles Young Park in Lexington’s East End Neighborhood.

Splash! will be the first water feature of its kind in downtown Lexington + is being designed to tell the life story of Col. Charles Young — the first African American to earn the rank of Colonel in the United States Army.

The city has been working closely with community members, neighbors + children to gather input on the new project with the hopes that the new feature will also educate visitors about the history of the East End neighborhood.

This new addition to the park will expand upon last year’s playground installment + the updates being made to the Town Branch Trail that runs parallel to the park.
Using recirculating water, the recreational water area will embody elements of the Bluegrass landscape — karst topography, water bubbling from stones, arches, and shallow creeks + streams.

Splash! is a privately funded project — costing $1.15 million, including a $900,000 grant from Blue Grass Community Foundation. The city has not yet released an estimated date for completion.

More from LEXtoday
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
Check out the co-working community that Lexington writers and New York Times bestsellers call home.
A guide to skating, skiing, and snow-filled fun close to home.
The annual Great Backyard Bird Count attracts more than one million people nationwide to help record the bird population.
We’re just a bunch of weirdoughs diving head first into LEX’s must-try pizza shops including Goodfellas, Pearl’s Pizza Pie, and Rolling Oven.
Discover local homes that showcase the latest design and lifestyle trends for 2026. From colorful finishes to energy-smart features, these properties have it all.
Elevated Southern breakfast and lunch hits downtown Versailles. Chef Olivia Jackson leads the kitchen under award-winning Cole Arimes.
Sponsored
The Lexington Herald-Leader released its annual roundup of UK’s top earners and employee salary database. We’re breaking down the key takeaways from one of Lexington’s largest employers.
Sponsored