A public input meeting on potential changes to Corley Street Park in Lexington--changes which would only happen if the town were to receive grant money, town leaders said--led some locals in attendance to share concern over potential tree removals. 

Located at 210 Corley St., not far from Virginia Hylton Park, the park currently includes swings, slides, a splash pad, bathrooms and two picnic tables. 

Town leaders are applying for a grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to replace and repair the park's existing facilities, convert the gravel parking lot into an ADA-compliant asphalt lot, install an accessible sidewalk and replace the existing playground with new ADA-compliant equipment. 

Jeff Metz, director of parks and community services for the Town of Lexington, said town leaders will find out if they received the grant in October 2026. If the grant is offered and accepted, the town has two years to spend the money. The public input meeting was part of the grant application's requirements.

If the town is approved for the federal grant money and accepts the money, the land would be federally protected, limiting its use to outdoor recreation. The cemetery, which is located in the park, will not be affected. 

The park is covered by tall trees, providing shade most enjoyed during the hot summer months. 

“We are not trying to remove trees,” Metz said. “If we do, we have a fund to replace them. If a tree does die over a playground structure, we have to remove it. We don’t have a choice. But we will plant it back.” 

A couple of individuals mentioned Virginia Hylton Park, where trees were removed when it was being constructed. One individual said it becomes too hot at Virginia Hylton Park during the summer, leading her to prefer Corley Street Park. 

 “Trust me, it was heartbreaking when one of those trees had to come down," Mayor Hazel Livingston said during the meeting. "But we also had hundreds of trees that were diseased that were dangerous to children."

The potential upgrades would help the park serve a wider age range, Metz said. He said playgrounds typically serve infants to 12-year-olds, often with separate sections for younger and older children within that age range.

Attendees were able to share additional opinions through comment cards, including whether the park should keep a traditional playground layout or create a more dynamic playground, implementing ropes. 

There may be more public input meetings in the future on potential upgrades to the park, which would only take place if the town receives the grant money, Livingston told the Chronicle.