At the close of this month, the city of Lexington is poised to break ground on Town Branch Park, a 10-acre public greenspace behind Rupp Arena that will connect more than 22 miles of walking and biking trails branching throughout the city.

The park, said Ann Bakhaus, chair of the volunteer board of directors spearheading the project, will mark “a transformational change to the heart of downtown Lexington, one that will bring people together and last for generations to come.”

Bakhaus, who’s worked on the park for nearly eight years, said she’s happy to devote her time to a project like this because it’s designed to be shared by all and to strengthen the community ties in a city she loves and calls home.

In many ways, she said, the park is a lot like KET, another community resource she loves and supports.

“What’s so special about KET is that it touches so many lives, and it creates opportunities for children and people of all ages throughout the state,” Bakhaus said. “Everybody knows and loves KET because they know how effective KET is.”

As Kentucky’s only statewide network, KET serves as an important informational hub for the Commonwealth, one that’s open to everyone to enjoy and use, she said.

Parents and caregivers turn to KET because they trust the network’s children’s programming and early childhood resources are a source of positive, educational content that help young learners engage with the world around them.

What’s so special about KET is that it touches so many lives, and it creates opportunities for children and people of all ages throughout the state.

Ann Bakhaus
Chair, Town Branch Park Advisory Board

“If you’re raising a family, KET’s programs are very important because you know they won’t have violence or other things that aren’t appropriate for young children,” she said, adding that she has fond memories of her own children watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood during their formative years. “All the programs have an educational component to them, and they’re very wholesome – I like wholesome.”

Bakhaus said she also gravitates to KET for its public affairs coverage, programs such as Kentucky Tonight, Kentucky Edition and KET Forums that delve into the Commonwealth’s most pressing issues of the day and cultivate statewide discussions about legislative, healthcare and workforce topics.

“When an election is drawing near, you can bet I’ll be tuning in to KET,” she adds. “It’s where I know I can get good, honest information, much like I could get from David Brinkley or Walter Cronkite many years ago.” 

Another facet of KET that’s near and dear to her is that the network’s programs tell Kentucky’s story, preserving the state’s history through programs like Kentucky Life and documentaries about its key historical figures and places.

“It’s very important to me that we take care of our history and pass it along to our children and grandchildren,” she said. “I think they learn a lot from that. And KET should be credited for bringing these stories into our living rooms. It does such a great job of helping us understand our home state and what makes it so special.”