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SubscribeAs part of a “visioning” exercise, Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation will host 12 public meetings during the months of September, October and November to receive feedback on future park amenities including dog parks, skate parks and walking/hiking trails.
“We look forward to hearing from citizens across Louisville about what they’d like to see in their parks,” said Director Seve Ghose. “With 12 meetings and a public comment period that will last into December, we hope everyone takes advantage of the opportunity to share their hopes and dreams for the future.”
Ghose said the meetings will take place once each week for 12 weeks at four sites: the East Government Center in Middletown; Sun Valley Community Center in southwest Louisville; the Portland Community Center in the Portland neighborhood in west Louisville; and the Cyril Allgeier Community Center in the Camp Taylor neighborhood just off the Watterson Expressway.
The meetings in September will feature a discussion about dog parks; October’s meetings will address skate parks; and November’s meetings will focus on walking/hiking trails. All meetings will last from 6-7:30 p.m.
“This is our and the community’s opportunity to discuss how best to enhance the system to best serve the growing community and disparate needs while improving the quality of life of all residents,” Ghose said.
Ghose said those who would like to attend a meeting but can’t are still encouraged to send comments about these topics and others to parks@louisvilleky.gov. Continue reading
The 2016 Kentucky State Fair is coming up on us quickly. The fair will run August 18th – 28th at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center here in Louisville.
Admission is $10 per person (children under 5 are admitted free) at the gate, but advanced tickets can be purchased online or at your local Kroger for $6. Any person who rides the city bus , TARC, from 4th St. downtown to Gate 4 during the fair will receive discounted admission at the gate. Parking is $8 per car and $20 per bus at the gate. Discounted parking can be purchased the Expo Center ticket office and Kroger for $5. There will not be any free parking available at the Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium this year. Some days will have special promotions:
- August 21 – Military Day: Free admission for active and retired military and their families, parking not included
- August 23 – Senior Day: Free admission for seniors 55 and older until 5;00 PM, parking not included
- August 24 – $20 Carload Day: $20 for every car, inlcuding parking
The Exhibition Hall opens at 9:00 AM daily and allows visitors to see a wide range of displays, including entries into the many contests, representatives from each county, LMPD, LG&E, and a flea market. Throughout the area, there will be daily shows, such as acrobatic performances, educational exhibits, BMX bike performances, music performances, dog tricks, cooking demonstrations, and even comedy shows. You can also watch people compete in the annual talent show, the World’s Championship Saddlebred Horse Show, Cheer & Dance Championship, and the cooking competitions.
No fair is complete without carnival rides for entertainment. The Midway will run throughout the entire fair, with rides opening at 12:00 PM on Friday – Sundays, and 2:00 PM on Monday through Thursdays. Rides do cost extra and wristbands are only good for one day. Wristbands can be purchased at the fair for: adults – $25 and children 12 and under that are also shorter than 56″ – $12. Discounted wristbands can be purchased online for $20 (no discount on child wristbands) through August 17th. During Military Day (August 21st), with proper military ID, military members and their families will be able to purchase wristbands for $10.
There is a large selection of food vendors to visit. Fried foods reign supreme, but you will be able to enjoy barbecue pork and beef from local farms and other fair treats, including hot dogs, hamburgers, gyros, french fries, funnel cakes, and the donut burger. There’s even the opportunity to bid on prized-country hams during the 53rd Annual Kentucky Country Ham Breakfast and Auction on August 25th.
Admission also gives access to the nightly Turf Concert series, which will feature performances by ABBA, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Chris Janson, Oak Ridge Boys, and Rachel Platten to name a few. There will also be three Main Stage concerts that cost extra, but the ticket price includes gate admission. These concerts will feature Reba McEntire, Jeff Dunham, and Chris Young and Brett Eldredge.
With over 600,000 visitors to last year’s State Fair, and the hope that this year will see an increase in attendance, the 2016 Kentucky State Fair will be a hot spot of activity this year.
Halfway through the year, The Parklands of Floyds Fork has exceeded one million visits, putting the donor-supported, public park well on its way to surpassing the 1.8 million visitors initially expected by the end of 2016. This is a major milestone for the ambitious project, which opened its first amenity only five years ago.
“With all four parks now open and additional amenities under construction, 2016 is set to be a landmark year for The Parklands,” said Park Director Scott Martin. “Every day, more people are discovering The Parklands and all it offers the Metro Louisville region.”
Since opening Marshall Playground & Sprayground in 2011, The Parklands has seen tremendous growth in size and interest. In May alone, The Parklands received nearly 300,000 visits—almost double the number from May of 2015. This increasing visitation of the park is due in no small part to the recent opening of Broad Run Park on April 15 of this year and Turkey Run Park in October of 2015.
In order to keep up with the parks’ rapidly growing popularity, The Parklands expanded its team to help operate the nearly 4,000-acre park system. Since opening Turkey Run Park last fall, 21st Century Parks has hired 26 part-time staff and 5 full-time staff to support the expanding system.
Each member of staff is committed to providing a world-class experience to visitors, and with the spike in visitation, The Parklands is asking visitors to do their part.
“We are thrilled to see so many people enjoying the parks and developing a love for the outdoors,” Martin said. “With this increased visitation, we ask park guests to remain courteous and respectful to those around them, and to take precautions to ensure safe and fun experiences on our trails, waterways, playgrounds and other areas.” Continue reading
Hunter brings vast leadership and government experience to KYTC
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) Secretary Greg Thomas today announced the appointment of Dr. Noelle Hunter as Executive Director of the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS).
“Dr. Hunter brings a vast wealth of knowledge and life experience to the KOHS,” said Sec. Thomas. “Combined with her passion and dedication to helping others, we believe she is a true asset to the Cabinet.”
The KOHS is responsible for providing traffic safety grant funding to law enforcement agencies and educational programs to schools and communities in an effort to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities on Kentucky roadways.
Prior to joining the KYTC, Hunter was the Director of College Readiness and an instructor of Developmental Reading at Morehead State University. During her decade in higher education, Hunter served as a professor of state and local government, American political institutions and international relations at Morehead State, West Virginia University and West Virginia Wesleyan University.
In 2014, Hunter testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on the problem of international parental child abduction. Hunter successfully recovered her daughter from abduction to Mali that same year with support and resources from her home community of Morehead, her native state of Alabama, and from Congress, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Justice. Hunter co-founded iStand Parent Network Inc. to empower parents to return their children from abduction and currently serves as president of the board of directors.
In 2003, Hunter served as the James E. Webb Fellow for the Smithsonian Institution Office of Policy and Analysis and worked in constituent services for the former Sen. Jay Rockefeller, of West Virginia. Prior to federal service, Hunter was the Walter Rollins Scholar for the West Virginia Legislature Committee on Health and Human Services and committee staff for the subcommittees on Homeland Security and Bioterrorism; and Workforce, Innovation and the New Economy—responsible for identifying threats and contingency plans to protect West Virginia’s critical infrastructure.
Hunter worked as a media relations executive for Public Communications, Inc. in Chicago and coordinated learning opportunities for underserved, urban youth from 1995-2000.
“The essence of the KOHS mission is to help people live as they travel our beautiful Commonwealth,” said Hunter. “It’s a great privilege to work in a Cabinet where this is our focus.”
Hunter earned a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism in 1994 and a Masters of Public Administration in 2009 from Ohio University. She earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from West Virginia University in 2007.
Hunter has lived in Kentucky for 11 years and has three daughters, Rachel, Rysa and Muna.
The concert line-up for the 2016 KY State Fair has been announced. As usual, the Turf Concert Series are included with the paid gate admission and seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. All concerts start at 8:00 PM.
Thursday, August 18th: ABBA: The Concert with special guest Kazual
Friday, August 19th: Ashanti with special guest After 7
Saturday, August 20th: Kentucky Headhunters with special guests Black Stone Cherry
Sunday, August 21st: Oak Ridge Boys with special guest Martin Family Circus
Monday, August 22nd: Newsboys with special guest 7eventh Time Down
Tuesday, August 23rd: Happy Together Tour 2016
Wednesday, August 24th: Chris Janson with special guest Brooke Eden
Thursday, August 25th: Blood, Sweat & Tears with Bo Bice with special guest Stephen Bishop
Friday, August 26th: American Authors with special guest Public the Band
Saturday, August 27th: Rachel Platten with special guest Jeffrey James
Sunday, August 28th: Francesa Battistelli with special guests Building 429, Lauren Daigle, and Finding Favour. This show starts at 4:00 PM.
The Main Stage Concerts require separate tickets to be purchased at the KY Exposition Center ticket office.
The schedule is:
Thursday, August 18th at 6:30 PM: Reba with special guest Parmalee
Friday, August 19th at 7:00 PM: Jeff Dunham
Friday, August 28th at 7:00 PM: Chris Young and Brett Eldredge with special guest Chris Lane
Tomorrow, during Father’s Day and courtesy of the Ford Motor Company of Louisville, dads will be able enjoy the Louisville Zoo free tomorrow.
The zoo opens at 10:00 AM and gates close at 5:00 PM.
“Pause-50” plan aims to restore funding back to normal operating levels
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) Secretary Greg Thomas today testified before the Interim Joint Committee on Transportation about the condition of the Road Fund cash balance—the funding source for all Cabinet operations including construction, maintenance and general support.
In his testimony, Sec. Thomas detailed the seriousness of a low Road Fund cash balance and introduced the Cabinet’s “Pause-50” plan to restore funding back to normal operating levels.
“For the first time in recent history, the Cabinet faces a low Road Fund cash balance, which compromises our ability to authorize new state road projects over the next biennium,” said Sec. Thomas. “The “Pause-50” approach is designed to slow or delay the starts of new projects so that we can pay current expenditures, recoup lost revenue and rebuild our funding base.”
Based on the KYTC’s cash management plan, the Cabinet strives to have a balance of at least $100 million at any given time. The last time the cash balance neared zero was in 2004 when it hit $30 million.
Consequently, the Cabinet will implement the “Pause-50” plan by halting the starts of new state-funded projects in all phases, which includes design, right of way/utilities, and construction for the first year of the biennium; and in the second year, aim for a goal of $50 million to allocate on state-funded projects starts.
In essence, the Cabinet will “pause” adding new state-funded projects for the first year in the biennium. For the second year, the Cabinet anticipates the availability of $50 million for state-funded projects starts. The dollar amount could be higher or lower depending on actual expenditures of current projects and the flow of state revenue funding.
In March, Sec. Thomas gave legislators a brief overview of the situation and identified several critical factors that have contributed to the low cash balance—mainly, overspending with limited funds.
State spending has greatly exceeded revenues since Fiscal Year 2014. Road Fund revenues totaled $4.5 billion over FY 2014-2016. Over the same period, expenses totaled $5.035 billion, exceeding revenues by $498 million; meaning that the start of new state funded projects must be delayed in order to meet payment of current expenditures as well as restoring the $100 million cash balance threshold. Continue reading