There is a clock that hangs over downtown Lexington, each day getting another day closer to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. For the Kentucky Horse Park and the World Games Foundation Board, it means making sure the park and plans are complete and ready to go by 2010. But for the communities surrounding the Horse Park, it's also counting down to the days to make the World Equestrian Games count for them.

Wherever you go there are World Equestrian Games committees forming and formulating. Each one trying to figure out what their niche is and how they can take part in the more than 600,000 spectators that are expected to attend the games. Cathy Rutter advises cities and counties across Kentucky on how they can prepare for 2010. "The one thing we try to tell them is don't reinvent yourself" Rutter said.

Georgetown

Mayor Karen Tingle-Sames knows just how important the location of the Horse Park is to her city. "It's helping entice them to come into Georgetown" Tingle-Sames said. Georgetown which is located just five miles from the Horse Park, is really the gateway to the Park and those coming into it from either I-64 or I-75. "Our mission at that point in time when those visitors come back to central Kentucky, is that they'll remember Georgetown" she said.

The Mayor says they are already seeing commercial development coming into Georgetown, development Georgetown needed but got an extra push upon the announcement of the World Equestrian Games. Another area that the Mayor says they anticipate to get a boost is rental properties during the games as well as farm rentals. She tells Action News 36 that real estate agents will be getting involved in some of the World Equestrian Games planning committees since Georgetown is expected to be a major spot for rentals with its proximity to the Horse Park.

Something else Georgetown is looking at are some beautification projects on the city's downtown. "We are planning to redo Broadway so that it looks a little more like Main Street" Tingle-Sames said.

Bourbon County and Paris

Bourbon County has found it's niche in horses, history and hospitality, the county's logo. While there won't be as many beautification projects in the city of Paris as in Georgetown, according to Mayor Don Kiser, they see the games as an opportunity to showcase their history of champion horse breeding and their farms. "We may have somebody come here from Germany, France, Italy and say, we'd like to relocate here and we need about 3,000 acres" Kiser said. With the entire horse industry coming to Kentucky, Sandra White from the Bourbon County Chamber of Commerce says it's a key time to show off their community to those interested in champion thoroughbred horses.

So how are they planning on getting the spectators to Paris? Sandra White says they are planning a two week festival that will celebrate the thoroughbred, Bourbon County's niche. Plans are still in the very early stages, but ideas range from restaurants in downtown Paris serving famous Kentucky foods, art stores selling thoroughbred art, and much more.

Lexington

In Lexington, the Center for Community Legacy Initiatives is thinking legacy. Director Steve Austin says they're looking at the long run with two project ideas that will leaving a lasting mark on Lexington. The first is a trail from downtown Lexington to the Kentucky Horse Park that would not only could be used during the World Equestrian Games, but also after 2010. "Ideally somebody working downtown could take their lunch break, bike out to the Horse Park have a picnic and bike downtown back to work" Austin said. The other idea is a revitalization project on the Third Street corridor of Lexington. One such example is the Lyric Theater which Mayor Newberry is proposing to spend six million dollars to revitalize in his most recent budget. "It's an area that has been neglected for quite a while" said Austin.

Grant County

Grant County has also figured out a way to attract the spectators to their community. They are starting the "Kentucky Horse Heritage Days" festival, but they are beginning their festival this year in order to build it up by 2010. The dates are September 27 and 28 and it will be held at the Grant County Park.

Funding

While many of these projects are still in the very beginning stages funding is not too far off. Many communities begin looking at their next budget for project funding, but they'll also be turning to the state for grant money. Georgetown for example is looking for grant money to decorate the interstate on the way into Georgetown for those flying into Cincinnati. One big help for many of these communities will also be the number of volunteers that take part in the planning, events and beautifucation projects. One area most cities will see increase in their next budget is the over-time for police/fire and for city maintenance workers.

For More Information

For more information on anything regarding the World Equestrian Games or to check how many days until the big event, click here.