Labyrinth on the Roanoke Greenway along Wolf Run Creek: 
Chronology and notes: 
Last Update: 9/27/2008, 4:20 PM

1. June, 2008, minor excavation noted at Roanoke Greenway on Roanoke Drive in  
Lexington, KY while checking on tree plantings done earlier in the spring.

2. September 23, Full excavation with concrete forms, gravel and construction  
debris and dirt dumping in flood plain noted.

3. September 25th, asked Keith Lovan, LFUCG Division of Engineering if he was  
aware of the project, he reported that it was approved by the Director of the  
Division of Engineering.

4. September 26th, Contacted Director of Division of Engineering, Marwan Rayan,  
who said the project was being sponsored by the Port Royal Neighborhood  
Association, that the Neighborhood Association had started the project prior to  
obtaining city approval and a stop work order was issued.  That District 11  
Council Member Peggy Henson had intervened on behalf of the Neighborhood  
association and work was approved to proceed with a letter of requirements. I  
requested a copy of the letter of requirements and was referred to Jerry Hancock  
at LFUCG Parks.

5. September 26th, Contacted Jerry Hancock at Parks, He stated that the project  
was proceeding under the letter of approval issued by Engineering, not by parks.  
Jerry referred me to Cindy Deitz regarding any issues related to compatibility of
 project with Greenways Master Plan.

6. September 26th, Contacted Peggy Henson's Office and spoke with Legislative  
aid Marian C. Zeitlin, she provided contact information for the neighborhood  
association leadership involved in the project.

7. Placed a call and sent electronic mail to Kathleen Fluhart; k.fluhart@insightbb.com; 
373-8192 Friday  afternoon  Left a message on her answering machine:

9. 4:45 9/26/08 Received a call from Keith Lovan, LFUCG Division of Engineering.
Keith Confirmed that the project was proceeding under a letter of
Requirement from Division of Engineering.  He stated that there 
Were presently silt and sediment erosion control structures on the
Site, we provided him with photographs of the facility that indicated
Otherwise. 

10. 10:00 AM, 9/27/08, 
Received an e-mail from Kathleen Fluhart of the Port Royal Neighborhood
Association.  She called the property "Roanoke Park" and said 
"We are working to eventually make this flood-plain be a part of the city parks".
She stated the project was being funded with "promised money from Dudley 
Webb for helping to close he Versailles road cut through"  She articulated
Other work the neighborhood association is doing to clean up the creek and 
provided information about the value of labyrinths for a contemplative and 
meditative walking activity for adults.

11. We sent a reply to Kathleen indicating support and understanding for 
the value of labyrinths as contemplative features, but questioned the 
sighting decision to put a 1,600 squire foot cement structure in a greenway 
with Wolf Run Park less than 500 feet away.  We also requested information 
on their construction and design standards and long term maintainence plans 
for the structure.

12. 9/27/2008 Sent a request to the LFUCG Urban Forester for a determination 
on the impact of the excavation on adjacent trees and the long term impact 
of placement of impervious surface over top of a large tree's root system 
on the property.

13. 9/27/2008 Send a formal request for a copy of the letter of requirements 
for the project, and a clarification on how permitting the project is consistent 
with the LFUCG Greenway Management Plan and Comprehensive Management Plan of 2001
to Marwan Rayan, LFUCG Director of Division of Engineering.


Essential positions: (Draft 2.0)

1. Friends of Wolf Run supports the goals, objectives and design criteria of the  
LFUCG Greenway Master Plan and has taken the position to oppose construction of  
"active park" recreational facilities in these sensitive areas. (Tennis courts,  
Ball Diamonds, Soccer fields etc...)  In particular any grading, filling, or  
construction of impervious surfaces.  These types of facilities are better  
suited for LFUCG Parks Property where they can be properly managed by Parks  
staff.

2. We support the work and leadership of Neighborhood Associations in the  
watershed, and consider the work by the Port Royal Neighborhood Association to  
provide a contemplative feature commendable, we view their initiative and  
leadership on this project as remarkable, considering the obstacles they have  
faced on getting this project started. We were also impressed with the design
of the labyrinth itself as an inspired work of art. 

3. We understand that the 11th District Council Member, Peggy Henson was  
involved to help an important neighborhood group realize their goals, which is  
what elected officials are supposed to do.

4. We are not concerned about "permits and approvals" were properly obtained,  
since that is simply a function of paperwork. Paperwork is not the issue.
We are concerned about precedent, impact, performance and housekeeping issues involved in the project.

5. This issue represents a lack of understanding of the intended use of  
this greenway, and how it fits in the LFUCG Master Plan as part of our flood  
control, stormwater management permit and green-space provisions.

6. That this construction will add 1,600 square feet of impervious surface to  
the watershed in an area designated for recharge/infiltration.

7. That the excavation and concrete slab will jeopardize the health of two large
trees in the greenway area.  The value of these trees is considerable.

8. That the long term durability of the facility is questionable, considering 
the construction practices involved. (2" deep forms)  This area floods, and 
scouring forces, expansion and contraction of saturated soils,  settling and 
natural sediment deposition in the bottom-land may cause the concrete, sand 
and gravel to wash out, shift, crack and break rendering it unusable with time.


Requests:

1. That since concrete has not been poured, there is a chance for the  
neighborhood Association to re-consider constructing this facility in this  
sensitive area.  To properly construct a 40X40' cement slab on city property  
would cost well over $50,000.00  There are better recreational options those  
funds could be applied to or lower cost, less intrusive labrynth construction
methods.  We would be glad to meet with the neighborhood  association and 
identify activities and uses of the green space that would meet  
their intended recreational and contemplative activity programming goals. Nature  
explorations, forested walkway,  Frisbee golf, or a mowed labyrinth are 
considerations.

2. That if the Neighborhood Association does not support the goals and  
provisions of the LFUCG Greenway Plan, and continues its construction 
project, that  they do so with sensitivity to the area by installing sediment 
and soil erosion  controls, stop dumping dirt from the project in the 
flood plain, and keep better  control of construction debris and trash.  
If they fail to do so, we would request a stop work order be issued 
by the city with cancellation of authorization to construct in the greenway.

3. That LFUCG provide resources to help educate our elected officials and  
neighborhood associations and other groups of the existence and purpose of these  
greenways, that they are not intended to be "active parks" and any projects in those  
areas (even tree plantings and trash cleanups) need approval from the Greenways 
Management team prior to proceeding.
   
Friends of Wolf Run would be more than happy to assist with that effort.


Reported by Ken Cooke, Secretary
Friends of Wolf Run
friend@wolfrunwater.org