Legacy Trail Uses Pervious Concrete in Portions of Trail on Coldstream Research Campus

Editor's note: Approximately 1.8 miles of the 12.5 mile Legacy Trail will run through UK's Coldstream Research Campus. The trail has been heavily supported by several of Lexington's largest employers, including Toyota, as a way to draw new talent and business to the area.

LEXINGTON, KY (June 8, 2010) — Portions of the Legacy Trail, 8.5 miles of which are already under construction, will feature a water quality component designed to reduce stormwater runoff and help protect nearby Cane Run Creek.

"The Legacy Trail project is once again demonstrating just how unique it is through the use of a pervious concrete surface," said Mayor Jim Newberry. "This type of pavement allows stormwater to pass through the trail surface and be absorbed, rather than running off into Cane Run Creek."

The portion of the trail located in Coldstream Park, adjacent to UK's Coldstream Research Campus, is close to Cane Run Creek. The creek, like the trail, starts in the downtown area and winds to the Kentucky Horse Park, crossing under the trail seven times. Cane Run is classified as an impaired stream, meaning it is too polluted to meet water quality standards.

Stormwater runoff can carry pollutants, such as debris, trash and litter, directly to creeks and streams. The pervious pavement of the trail will reduce stormwater runoff and help protect the creek, which ultimately recharges the Royal Springs Aquifer, the raw water supply for the city of Georgetown.

Approximately 5,000 feet of the trail at Coldstream Park will feature the pervious concrete surface.

"This portion of the Legacy Trail represents the first pervious concrete trail in Fayette County. It also is the largest pervious concrete project in Kentucky," said Newberry.

The 12.5 mile Legacy Trail will eventually connect downtown Lexington with the Kentucky Horse Park.

Construction started in April on Phase 1 of the trail, which begins off Ironworks Pike at the Horse Park, where there is a trail head, and travels through Maine Chance Farm and UK's Coldstream Research Campus to Newtown Pike at Citation Boulevard. Also under construction is Phase 2, which travels through Lexmark property to the Northside YMCA, where there is another trail head. The cost of the first two phases, suing a mix of federal, state and local funds, is approximately $7.8 million. Phase 3, now in design, begins at the Northside Y and ends at Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden.

Phases 1 and 2 are scheduled to open in time for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, which start 108 days from today.

The public, workign with the Legacy Center, identified the trail as a project it would like to see grow out of the Games for Lexington's future. Steve Austin, Legacy Center director, said the trail is "going to be one of the greatest additions to Lexington in many years." The second project is the revitalization of Lexington's East End neighborhood.