A Generational Opportunity
Every generation has an opportunity to leave its mark on the community it calls home. I believe ours has the opportunity to reconnect Frankfort with the river on which it was founded.
Last week, the City Commission unveiled the Frankfort Riverfront Vision and Strategic Plan prepared by the nationally recognized planning firm Sasaki. Building upon the 2009 Riverfront Design Plan and our 2018 Downtown Master Plan, it provides our most comprehensive vision yet for reconnecting our community with the Kentucky River while identifying practical steps for moving us in that direction.
That opportunity came into sharper focus for me in May 2024 when I participated in the Mayors’ Institute on City Design (MICD) at New York University. One of the things I have tried to do as mayor is connect Frankfort to the broader world, seeking out the best ideas from other communities and bringing them home. More importantly, those ideas should lead to action.
At MICD, I presented Frankfort’s riverfront and asked a simple question: How do we better connect our city with the Kentucky River? The discussion confirmed that our riverfront is one of Frankfort’s greatest untapped assets—not only for recreation, but also for economic development, tourism, neighborhood connectivity, and quality of life. My participation in MICD ultimately helped shape the City’s decision to issue a Request for Proposals and select Sasaki as our planning partner.
A Roadmap, Not a Construction Schedule
This plan is not a construction schedule or a promise that every rendering will become reality. It is a strategic guide that will help us prioritize projects, pursue grants, encourage private investment, and make future decisions through a common vision.
Rather than presenting one enormous project, Sasaki divided the vision into more than 30 individual projects, prioritized near-term opportunities, and identified potential funding sources. That allows us to build momentum one project at a time while keeping our long-term vision in sight. In fact, implementation has already begun. Congressman James Comer secured a $5.8 million federal earmark that will fund the first phase of improvements at Riverview Park.
The Bluegrass Braid
My favorite concept in the plan is what Sasaki calls the Bluegrass Braid.
It imagines weaving together the Kentucky River, downtown, Fort Hill, surrounding neighborhoods, parks, trails, and public spaces into one connected experience. I was especially pleased to see the emphasis on strengthening the connection between downtown and Fort Hill, an idea I encouraged throughout the planning process.
One Project at a Time
For years, I have heard that Frankfort should do a better job of embracing its riverfront. I agree. The key is not trying to build everything at once. The key is building momentum.
Some recommendations will be relatively easy to accomplish. Others will require years of planning, grants, or public-private partnerships. Some ideas will evolve, while others may never come to fruition. That is exactly how good strategic planning works.
It is also how we have approached governing. We don’t wait for one giant opportunity. We complete one project, pursue the next grant, establish another partnership, and keep moving forward.
Part of a Larger Renewal
The Riverfront Vision and Strategic Plan is one piece of a much larger transformation taking place throughout our community.
Construction of our downtown Meeting and Event Center is moving forward. The Singing Bridge replacement is funded and on track. The Holmes Street Corridor, Washington Street extension, and west side transportation improvements will improve mobility and create new opportunities for growth. We will also expect to open our new downtown fire station this year, while partnering with the schools and fiscal court to build a new aquatic and wellness center.
Viewed individually, each project serves an important purpose. Viewed together, they tell a much larger story. Frankfort is investing in itself, preparing for the future, and building momentum for the next generation.
Looking Ahead
Transformational change is not always easy to see while it is happening. Construction can be inconvenient, and meaningful projects require patience.
I am confident that when we look back a decade from now, we will see a more connected downtown, a revitalized riverfront, improved transportation, expanded recreation, new private investment, and public infrastructure that strengthened our community for generations.
The Kentucky River has never stopped moving. For centuries, it has shaped our landscape and carried Frankfort forward. Our city is doing the same. We are moving strategically, one project at a time, building momentum with every investment and every partnership.
Like the Kentucky River itself, Frankfort keeps rolling forward.
All my best,
