With State Route 97 and State Route 42 bisecting the village and close proximity to Interstate 71, Lexington businesses are stimulated by traffic. Additionally, local businesses are frequented by visitors and racers at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course just outside of town.
Lexington is also a source of jobs and careers through companies like Hi-Stat Manufacturing, Neer Manufacturing, Next Generation Films Inc., Mansfield Screw Machine Products Corp., and DECA Manufacturing.
In September of 2012, Next Generation Films Inc. reported a $35 million investment that will include 10 new multilayer film extrusion lines and a newly acquired 175,000-square-foot facility.
Mayor Eugene Parkison is excited about the company’s growth and he thinks this will attract new residents to Lexington and the surrounding areas. He is, however, concerned with the fact that “there is virtually no land to grow.”
Parkison stated, “Retaining what there is in Lexington is a priority.”
Since there is no land for new business growth, retention is the mayor’s first concern. Retention efforts will center on annual festivals and activities, like the one on July 31st celebrating the date of Lexington’s first post office. And the annual Blueberry Festival is held in August on the grounds of the Plymouth Street Park.
The park is also open to the public year-round where people can enjoy basketball and sand volleyball, playground equipment, baseball diamonds, and soccer fields. Other parks in Lexington include Bicentennial Park on Lexington-Ontario Road, which includes basketball courts, open space for pets, soccer fields, playground equipment and a pavilion.
The Lexington School district offers three elementary schools: Eastern Elementary, Western Elementary, and Central Elementary. All of the elementary schools boast above percentile performances required by Ohio with most percentages in the nineties. Lexington’s high school is centrally located with 870 students enrolled for 2011-2012. The High School’s Performance Index was 103.3 points out of 120 and the graduation rate was 95%. (The state requirement is 90%).
Lexington offers a hardware store, pizza shops, a gas station and restaurants like Buck’s Bar and Grill and Happy Grape Wine Bar. Geyer’s Grocery store is centrally located as well. And for those who enjoy cycling, Y-Not Cycling & Fitness is located adjacent to the B&O Bike Trail.
Parkison, who prefers to be called Gene, has been the mayor for over 20 years. He has been married for 41 years to Carol and they have two grown men as sons, Tim and Todd.