Duncan Park matters to the Martin Luther King Neighborhood Association. In fact, reclaiming this historic asset and returning it to its status as a jewel in downtown Lexington is a central priority for the MLKNA.

This wonderful small park has a history that mirrors Lexington's own: money, power, racism, slavery, abolition, civic virtue, and public neglect all have played a role in the Park's history. In addition, it offers our neighborhood the possibility of beautiful public space, suitable for play, contemplation, games, cultural performances, study, visiting, and exercise for everyone from toddlers to seniors. The park can become the healthy heart of our reinvigorated neighborhood. In addition, the houses that ring the park can become prime real estate, affecting the housing on all the adjoining streets in positive ways.

In 1810, one of Lexington's first millionaires, William "Lord" Morton, built the fine house in the center of the Park that now serves as home to the Center for Women, Children and Families. Morton made a lot of money in finance, and also gave considerable money away, to the Morton School and to Fayette Hospital, now Eastern State Hospital. Archeologists in the neighborhood have stated that they are convinced a man of Morton's stature, who built a grand house facing North Limestone, probably owned slaves; the archaeologists presume careful digs behind the house could yield valuable artifacts and knowledge about both wealth and slavery in Lexington's past.

The fiery abolitionist Cassius Clay bought the house in 1838. He lived there while publishing the True American, Lexington's first abolitionist newspaper. Some people in Lexington believe the house served as an actual physical stop on the Underground Railway, but that claim has not yet been tested.

Henry T. Duncan bought the house and grounds some time after 1850, and maintained the beautiful five acre grounds in such a way that even then the place was called "Duncan Park." Duncan served many terms as a member of the city council, and served two terms as mayor. He also co-founded the Lexington Daily Press, which is a predecessor of today's Lexington Herald-Leader.

The historic home and grounds first became a park in about 1912. Sadly, from the beginning it was part of a segregated park system, mandated by the state of Kentucky between 1916-1956. Frederick Olmsted's firm helped design Duncan Park. (Olmsted had designed New York's Central Park and Louisville's Cherokee Park, among many others.) Duncan Park was designated for the white community, and Douglass Park was designated for the black community. Ironically, the community around this 'white' Duncan Park slowly became predominantly black by the 1970s.

In the 1970s, during the Civil Rights movement in Kentucky, a civil rights demonstration took place at Duncan Park. The house, in the meantime, had become an orphanage. Later, women's civic groups used the house as a base for providing services to children. Civic groups built a playground in the Park at some point in the 1970s.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Duncan Park slowly fell into a neglected state, largely unused by a dense urban community, which most needed a park. In 1995, LFUCG announced plans to close the swimming pool there. The pool was finally removed in the summer of 2000. By the mid-1990s, beautiful Duncan Park had become a scary place. No families visited; no children used the now decrepit playground. Most neighbors avoided the Park at all costs, believing it "belonged" to drug dealers and people up to no good. The sole point of hope was the house itself, which Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government leased to the Center for Women, Children, and Families. The Center raised $600,000 to renovate and stabilize the house.

The Department of Parks and Recreation created a Master Plan for Duncan Park at some point in the early 1990s. Virtually none of the improvements on the Master Plan were carried out, except for demolition of the swimming pool.

In 2000, the MLKNA chose "Reclaim Duncan Park" as its number one goal for the foreseeable future. The Department of Parks and Recreation and the MLKNA involved neighbors in thinking together about best uses of the Park. The Master Plan has been partly revised, and served as a foundation for deciding on the first stage of long range Park improvement.

Together, the MLKNA, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, and the Lexington Young Professionals Association generated $80,000 to fund the equipment for a large new playground (built by 300 community volunteers), begin the sidewalk construction program, add some fine quality benches, and resurface the basketball courts.

In 2001, the MLKNA began sponsoring a July 3-on-3 kids basketball tournament on three successive weekends, culminating in Duncan Park Homecoming day. In 2002, the MLKNA added a Barbeque Cook-off to the Homecoming event. Today, children play in the park many days, an annual sports event occurs there, and the landscaping, walks and atmosphere of the park are much improved. It is one of few city parks in Lexington that has absolutely no graffiti!

The MLKNA has begun conversations about the second stage of improvements to Duncan Park, and has received a small grant dedicated to those improvements. Decisions about the next steps will be made in 2003. Much depends, as well, on how the new Mayor chooses to allocate the severely limited park funding available to the city.

If it is to become the strong heart of a healthy neighborhood, the park needs the nourishment of neighborhood investment and care. It also needs funding to rebuild sidewalks, make a gathering place for performances, and provide "play directors" or other expert guides who can help young people play together safely and well. The MLKNA is eager to move to the next stage of the park's growth.