About Destination 2040

How will we protect all that we value while continuing to grow as a community?

Origins of Destination 2040

Shortly after Mayor Jim Newberry and the members of the current Urban County Council took office in late 2006, they made a joint commitment to work together with the people of Lexington-Fayette County (Kentucky) to develop a common sense of direction for our community's future. Recognizing the great assets and great challenges in our community, the Mayor and Council Members formed Destination 2040 to include all people living in Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky, in making the choices that will shape our community for at least the next 30 years. Read the Project Description presented to the Mayor and Council Members on October 30, 2007.

Need for Destination 2040

In addition to the emphasis placed on this important work by the Mayor and Council, initial interviews with a sampling of approximately 50 community leaders from all walks of life underscored the sense that Lexington-Fayette County is a special place with special opportunities and challenges. Many in our community also say it is time to develop a clearer sense of common purpose, a shared vision that will engage all of us in moving our community from good to great.

Purpose of Destination 2040

The purpose of Destination 2040 is to craft a consciously chosen dream for our community that has the widespread support, quality, commitment, and follow-through needed to endure.

Root Question for Lexington-Fayette County's Future

Destination 2040 is organized around a root question that grows out of a realistic look at the tough choices we need to make together: "How will we protect all that we value while continuing to grow as a community?" It is necessary to come to widespread community agreement on how to respond to this question if Lexington-Fayette County is to move into the top tier of the world's great places to live and visit.

Providing a Clear Focus: Four Aspects of Community Life

Four Aspects of Community Life serve as the framework for all Destination 2040 work to address the root question our community faces and develop wise policies, practices, and programs that will move our community forward strategically and practically:

Human Needs
Physical Growth
Economic Expansion
Cultural Creativity

Read more about the four Aspects of Community life and the elements included within each here.

Leaders and Partners for Destination 2040

Destination 2040 conveners, sponsors, and funders: LFUCG

Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, led by Mayor Jim Newberry and the 15 members of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council, initiated Destination 2040 and serve as its primary conveners. LFUCG funds the project, which also depends on extensive contributions of volunteer time by people in Lexington-Fayette County.

Destination 2040 Steering Committee

A 15-member volunteer Steering Committee provides project oversight and integration.

Destination 2040 Work Teams

Four topical Work Teams that include knowledgeable community volunteers and topic experts will be assigned to build on the ideas, choices, and priorities developed in public meetings to produce implementation plans complete with tasks, targets, and progress measurements.

Destination 2040 Partners

Businesses and nonprofit organizations may serve as Destination 2040 partners by making two commitments: engage members and employees in two rounds of structured community conversations between January and June, 2008, and contribute to carrying out the eventual implementation plans, as appropriate.

Distinctive Destination 2040 Commitment to Widespread Participation

Destination 2040 is based on broad-based community engagement. Mayor Newberry and the Council Members want every Lexingtonian to have an opportunity to take part in two guided conversations about our future. Project partners have agreed to devote two of their naturally occurring meetings from January – June, 2008 to considering Lexington-Fayette County's future.

Naturally occurring meetings such as these offer thousands of Lexingtonians easy access to the democratic process of choosing their future together:

Business gatherings
Staff meetings
Sports league meetings
Civic clubs / groups
Classes in churches, mosques, and synagogues, and other faith-based group meetings
PTA/PTSA, School-Based Decision-Making and other parent-school meetings
Neighborhood association gatherings
Classes and teachers' groups in schools at all levels
Organizations' board meetings
Gatherings of friends or family members

This easy-access style is coupled with trained volunteer facilitators who use a standardized guide for each meeting and carefully report on each session, making sure every voice counts and every idea is reported.

Destination 2040 Time Line

Partners may join the project at any time

Round One Meetings: January 22 – March 14, 2008: "The Destination Conversation: Many Ideas, One Vision"

Round Two Meetings: March 31 – May 2, 2008: "Milestones and Measures: How Will We Mark Our Progress?"

Vision Report and Implementation Plans Complete: July 1, 2008

Implementation Begins: Summer, 2008

View the Project Calendar for information about scheduled facilitator training as well as meetings of the Steering Committee and Work Teams.