Mayor Greg Fischer today proposed a $30 million bond ordinance to support the Louisville City Football Club soccer stadium and district announced last week, and said he will soon propose another $30 million in bonds for several other economic development projects.

The bond introduced at Metro Council today and sponsored by 4th District Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith would provide $30 million to buy about 35 acres of land in Butchertown for the stadium, as well as brownfield remediation and public infrastructure improvements.

(Learn more about the soccer stadium development project)

Projects that may be supported in future bonding include:

• The Louisville Urban League’s $30 million plan for a state-of-the-art multi-sports complex anchored by an indoor track and field facility on the 24-acre Heritage West property located at 3029 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
• The $35 million plan to expand Waterfront Park into Russell and Shippingport, including plazas, pathways, play areas, green spaces, footbridges, sculptures, historic elements, and fountains, and an extension of River Road from where it currently ends near 10th Street to around 14th Street.
• Improvements at Riverview Park, 8202 Greenwood Road, in southwest Louisville.

“Each of these developments represents a major quality-of-life and economic development boost to our city,” the Mayor said. “These are smart opportunities, and when opportunities to move our city forward come up, we’re going to go for them.  That’s how you create momentum, and that’s how you keep it going for the future of our city.”

Councilwoman Sexton Smith said: “This is a strategically aligned business decision that will create jobs taking into account the taxpayers’ money first. One hundred percent of our funds will be used to purchase the land and improve the infrastructure. The best part is we will receive $14.5 million in lease payments and another $15 million in projected property taxes over the next 20 years. It’s a great deal for our city, with Butchertown leading the way!”

Professional skateboarders and cyclists and extreme athletes from across the region converged on the David Armstrong Extreme Park on Saturday to test themselves on a new metal vert ramp that’s considered to be among the finest skatepark elements in the world.
The ramp was designed and built by G. Ramps AG, a German firm specializing in skate park elements construction, and the pieces were transported to the United States by a ship. Construction began in late August and was completed last week.

The project cost $328,000 and included demolition of the old, wooden vert ramp and purchase and installation of the new ramp.

““The Louisville Extreme Park is a jewel for extreme sports enthusiasts, and the addition of the new vert ramp makes it even more world class. So I encourage everyone to go down there and have fun – just don’t forget your helmet,” Mayor Greg Fischer said.

Recently, the park was closed for more than a year as the Ohio River Bridges Project was completed. The park reopened April 2015 with new features including updated street elements and a “snake run.” The bowl and full pipe, which were fixtures to the original design, were modernized.
The park is named for former Louisville Mayor David Armstrong, who passed away in June at the age of 76. Armstrong was serving as mayor in 2002 when the skatepark opened to the public.

The Extreme Park has consistently been listed as one of the finest skatepark locations in the world by various websites and magazines.

“Every time I visited the extreme skate park during the installation you could feel the energy and hear the excitement from everyone. I spoke with a young man who said the new ramp made him feel like a kid in a candy shop,” said Barbara Sexton Smith, who represents District 4, where the park is located, on the Louisville Metro Council.
“The guys from Germany and our local workers said this is one of the coolest projects they’ve ever worked on. I hope everyone will stop by for some extreme fun!”
“We’re thrilled to open this new chapter in the short but growing history of the David Armstrong Extreme Park,” said Seve Ghose, Director of Parks and Recreation, which manages the property. “The new vert ramp will enhance the already great reputation the park has as a destination for extreme athletes from across the world.”

The Louisville Orchestra is delighted to announce that Jim James will perform with the Louisville Orchestra on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 8PM at the Kentucky Center. Scheduled as part of the Orchestra’s “Classics Series” sponsored by Brown-Forman, the concert, titled “Kentucky Classics,” was already announced and is currently on sale.
James will perform with the orchestra in his original songs orchestrated by LO Music Director, Teddy Abrams. The two have hoped to collaborate for years in an orchestral performance.
The concert on April 7, 2018, also features the orchestra performing a Louisville premiere of “Natural History” by Michael Gordon under the direction of Teddy Abrams. The piece, written to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the United States National Parks Service, honors the beauty and grandeur of the American National Parks. A selection from the 2017 Grawemeyer Composition First Place Award winning work “Play” by Andrew Norman will also be performed by the Orchestra.
Tickets are $58 to $27 and are available at the only authorized LO ticket vendor: Kentucky Center Ticket Office (501 W. Main, Louisville) by calling 502.584.7777 or 800.775.7777 or online at KentuckyCenter.org. Concert details are available at LouisvilleOrchestra.org.
LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA  ::  PLAY: FESTIVAL OF AMERICAN MUSIC 1 SAT 07 APR 2018   |  8PM  |  Kentucky Center

• Jim James, guest artist
• Teddy Abrams, conductor
• JULIA WOLF:  riSE and fly
• ANDREW NORMAN:  Play, Level 1
• JAMES/ABRAMS:  Song Cycle with Jim James
• MICHAEL GORDON:  Natural History

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time set aside to help educate the public about the prevalence of childhood cancer across the U.S. and promote the need for continued research and treatment. As part of the observance, Governor Matt Bevin has officially proclaimed Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in Kentucky and will be illuminating the Kentucky State Capitol dome gold tonight.

“Sadly, childhood cancer is not rare. Like many families in Kentucky, mine knows this only too well,” said Gov. Bevin. “By spreading awareness for pediatric cancer, we can begin to make a powerful difference in the fight to eradicate it. Please be engaged, and find ways to commit your time and generosity to this worthy cause. We can do this, because we are Kentucky.”

Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children. Approximately one in every 300 children in the United States will be diagnosed by his or her 20th birthday. That means 15,780 children per year, are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. alone.

“Raising awareness of childhood cancer as the number one cause of death by disease is the first step to better outcomes for the nearly 16,000 children that will be diagnosed this year,” said Jamie Ennis Bloyd, mother of a childhood cancer survivor and president of the Kentucky Pediatric Cancer Research Trust Fund. “Education is the first step towards meaningful change, and I appreciate Governor Bevin taking the lead in making sure this devastating issue gets the attention it deserves.”

The Pediatric Cancer Research Trust Fund was created by the Kentucky legislature to enhance efforts to reduce pediatric cancer incidence and mortality. These efforts target the program needs and challenges specific to population groups and geographic regions within the Commonwealth.

Recently, the Kentucky Pediatric Cancer Research Trust Fund announced it is now taking applications for grant funding. For more information on how to apply for these first-ever grant funds, go to the Pediatric Cancer Research Trust Fund website.

The grants are possible because of donations made on state income tax returns. Kentuckians now have the option to check a box and make a donation to pediatric cancer research. Contributions to the trust fund will be used to advance promising Kentucky programs promoting pediatric cancer research and treatment.

For more information on National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, go online to the American Childhood Cancer Organization.

The Commission on Public Art (COPA) will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, September 6 from 4-7 p.m. in the Old Jail Auditorium (514 W. Liberty) to discuss pieces in its inventory that can be interpreted as honoring discrimination, racism, bigotry or slavery. Today, the agenda for that meeting is available.

The agenda is as follows:

• Introduction by COPA Chair Anna Tatman and staff report by Public Art Administrator Sarah Lindgren (30 minutes)
• Public comment (90 minutes)
• Break (15 minutes)
• Commission deliberation (45 minutes)

To find the agenda online and to view a livestream of the meeting, please visit https://louisville.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

All public comments submitted to date have been provided to the COPA Commissioners for their review. At Wednesday’s meeting, the public should adhere to a three minute time limit for their comments. The Old Jail Auditorium will open at 3:15 p.m. for meeting attendees and attendees wishing to speak will be asked to sign up. Signs ups will be first come, first served.

This meeting will not be the last public forum where public comments will be taken. Residents may still contribute their thoughts online: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/public-art/public-art-review or by mail to Commission on Public Art, 444 S. 5th Street, Suite 600, Louisville, KY 40202