Free Things to Do in Lexington, Kentucky

Having fun in the summer doesn't have to involve taking out a loan or burning half of your paycheck. Lexington, Kentucky offers some great free activities that don't cost anything and you can get some great exercise as an added bonus.

Kirklevington Park

The running track is only a little longer than a mile but this park boasts a great softball complex with nicely maintained fields. If your team is looking for a place to practice this park is more than suitable for your needs. You can also take a nice walk around the track that offers a fair amount of hills and some nice shading from the trees. Tennis and basketball courts are also available.

Woodland Park

This park sits close to the University of Kentucky campus so you can find several students studying under the shade of the trees. It doesn't offer a running track but does offer skateboard ramps in addition to popular tennis and basketball courts. This is also a popular park for local softball leagues.

Jacobson Park

If you're embarking on an ambitious running program this may be the best park for you in terms of distance as a lap around the park can go for more than three miles (be aware of traffic, though, as there really isn't a true running track). If you have children that are under ten this may be your best bet for free activities. A small footbridge goes over a pond that is very popular with the greater Lexington duck population. My three-year-old son loves to take half of our bread on Sunday afternoons and feed the ducks, who are very friendly once they see the telltale bread bags.
He also enjoys the playground. There are plenty of slides, bridges, monkey bars and other climbing appartuses available for children. Parents can rest in the shade by the sandbox portion of the playground on some of the benches and still keep an eye on the kids. My son's favorite piece of equipment is the little airplane ride that he can "set for takeoff" under his own power.
During the summer the park also offers "Free Friday Flicks". Families can watch a movie that begins at dusk on the big-screen and have a nice picnic on blankets. Eventually some of the children actually go to sleep. Mine isn't one of them yet, though.

Sources

Lexington, Kentucky Parks and Recreation Website. http://www.lexingtonky.gov/index.aspx?page=198