Location: Lexington, KY
Owner: Gatton Park Foundation
General Contractor: Dean Builds
Landscape Architect: Sasaki / Carmen
Ruppert Landscape is proud to play a role in the creation of Gatton Park, a transformative community space in the heart of downtown Lexington, Kentucky. Designed to be “Lexington’s new backyard, front porch, and living room,” the park is envisioned as a gathering place for all—a space where neighbors can connect, visitors can recharge, and the community can celebrate its shared history and future. Whether hosting concerts under the stars, offering a quiet seat beside the creek, or providing sunny paths for a stroll, Gatton Park will serve as a vibrant hub of activity and relaxation.
Scope of Work
Our team’s involvement began in January of 2024 and wrapped up at the end of this summer. The scope is extensive, including installation of concrete seat walls, flatwork, pavers, boulders, site stone, and irrigation. On the planting side, we’re delivering 500 trees, 30,000 plants, one acre of sod, two acres of seed, and 18,000 cubic yards of imported soils—turning a once-barren site into a lush urban greenspace. Estimator Will Saxby was integral during preconstruction, guiding us through numerous value-engineering options that ultimately secured our role in the project, while Assistant Branch Manager Glenn Butler acted as project lead during the execution phase.
Mobilization and Team Effort
Mobilizing an out-of-town project of this size required detailed planning and coordination. The first step was assembling the right team from our Georgia landscape installation branch—skilled, adaptable individuals whose effectiveness would directly impact productivity and project quality. With the crew selected, we secured long-term housing that balanced proximity to the site, comfort, and cost, ensuring the team could stay well-rested and focused throughout the 19-month project. At the same time, equipment and materials had to be transported to Lexington, from heavy machinery and specialized tools to safety gear and temporary site facilities. Careful logistics prevented costly delays and kept the project on track.
We also established partnerships with local vendors and subcontractors for specialized scopes like grading, hydroseeding, and irrigation. Strong communication, vendor relationships, and contingency planning were critical to overcoming the inherent challenges of working out of town, laying the foundation for smooth, efficient progress from day one.
Challenges and Solutions
As with any high-profile, complex build, challenges emerged early. One of the most difficult tasks was the site’s stone installation. Originally specified as smooth-cut stone, the design shifted to natural cleft stone, a material with more irregular edges and greater dimensional variation. This adjustment gave the project a rustic, authentic feel but made installation significantly more complicated. Our crews approached it like assembling an enormous three-dimensional puzzle, requiring extra time, precision, and creativity. The change also extended the stone’s manufacturing timeline, so to keep the project moving, we assisted the vendor by identifying and bringing in an additional stone fabricator. This proactive solution reduced delays and kept overall progress on track.
The demanding schedule added extra pressure, especially since much of the complex stonework was located in the highly visible center of the park. Any delays in that area risked impacting adjacent work and creating a ripple effect of setbacks. To keep the project moving and avoid bottlenecks, the team strategically advanced other elements—such as flatwork and planting—while the stone installation continued, ensuring construction stayed on schedule.
Weather was another significant hurdle. The spring of 2024 was among the wettest on record in Lexington, creating muddy conditions that complicated soil delivery and installation. With 18,000 cubic yards of imported soils to manage, the team had to carefully coordinate deliveries during dry weather windows, adjust sequencing, and use creative drainage strategies to maintain progress despite the saturated ground.
Through these challenges, our team showed resilience, problem-solving, and collaboration. Special thanks go to Assistant Project Manager Nick Peck, Field Manager Jose Zuniga, Purchaser Mary Angebranndt, and the team of dedicated Crew Members. We also extend appreciation to our subcontractors: Greenhill’s Landscape, who handled concrete, walls, grading, and pavers, and Aqua Underground, who completed irrigation installation. Together, these combined efforts are helping bring Gatton Park to life—an enduring community destination for generations to come.