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Photo: Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Louisville Parks and Recreation, Councilman David James, and volunteers and park neighbors will celebrate completion of phase one of the Victory Park revitalization project on Saturday, November 18, 2017.
Phase one of a $1 million revitalization to Victory Park included relocation of the basketball court to create a larger open area for activities; a new walking path; installation of additional lighting, benches and 35 new trees.
Phase two of the revitalization project is expected to start in early 2018 and will include a new playground and sprayground.
Financial support came from Olmsted Parks Conservancy’s recent Campaign for Extraordinary Parks, including Humana Foundation, James Graham Brown Foundation, PNC Foundation, Kosair Charities along with support from Louisville Metro Government, Mayor Greg Fischer and Louisville Parks and Recreation.
“Olmsted Parks Conservancy is thrilled to preserve this historic park and see the neighborhood enjoy the new features, especially since they have been part of the whole revitalization process,” said Earl Jones, Board Chair, Olmsted Parks Conservancy.
“The improvements to Victory Park have the opportunity to transform the surrounding neighborhood and bring nearby residents together,” said Seve Ghose, Director, Louisville Parks and Recreation. “I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds and cherish the partnership between Louisville Metro and the Olmsted Parks Conservancy.”
Victory Park is a four-acre parcel of land that was set aside as a park space by the Board of Park Commissioners in 1919 with a design drawn in 1923 by the Olmsted brothers. The area was noted for its magnificent trees, including gum, oak, osage orange and elm. It was originally called Greenwood Park, but its name was changed to Victory Park in commemoration of World War I.
Victory Park has historically been the site for band concerts, plays, and gathering space for choral groups, as well as a place for active and passive play. Since its inception, this greenspace has been a focal point and a source of community pride for the surrounding neighborhood.
Families can enjoy fall color and a variety of outdoor activities at Jefferson Memorial Forest during the Wilderness Louisville Forest Adventure on Saturday, October 21 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The Wilderness Louisville Forest Adventure is presented by Quest Outdoors, and is free to the public.
Participants can listen to live music, take a hay ride, and spend time in nature at the peak of the Fall season.. Children can spend time in a nature play area, climb a “rock” wall, decorate pumpkins with their families, and participate in archery and fishing. The Forest’s volunteer trail team and staff will lead hikes at various skill levels and volunteer naturalists will introduce visitors to the native plant gardens, bird blind and animal exhibits. The event is free to the public.
The event will also feature the Wilderness Louisville 5K trail run through the forested knobs starting at 9 a.m.
Theresa Zawacki, Chair of Wilderness Louisville, the non-profit foundation supporting Jefferson Memorial Forest, stressed the importance of Louisville’s community forest and the general role natural areas contribute to the city’s quality of life.
“All of us, young and old, benefit from being outdoors,” Zawacki said. “Being in nature helps us manage stress, gives us space to be both active and reflective, creates opportunities for families to bond, makes us more appreciative of the world around us,and of course, is just plain fun.”
Additionally, Mayor Greg Fischer and other local officials will be present when, at 11 a.m., the “ECHO Mobile,” the newest addition to Jefferson Memorial Forest and the Louisville Parks and Recreation’s Natural Areas Division’s “Louisville is Engaging Children in Outdoors” (“ECHO”) Program is unveiled. Louisville ECHO provides youth education and out-of-school-time activities at Jefferson Memorial Forest and other community spaces.
Funded through a $30,000 Meet Me at the Park grant from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and The Walt Disney Company, the “ECHO Mobile” is a mobile outdoor recreation and nature play unit to bring a bit of the outdoors to relatively nature-poor urban parks. The ECHO Mobile will bring activities such as biking, archery and fishing, anda variety of natural materials and nature play opportunities to youth throughout the community. .
“We’re excited to be unveiling the “ECHO Mobile” at the Wilderness Louisville Forest Adventure, but we’re also ready to hit the road and take it into the community starting in earnest next spring,” said Bennett Knox, Park Administrator. “It’s one more ECHO component that we can use to improve equitable access to nature for Louisville youth and families.”
The Louisville Cricket Club, part of the 42-team MidWest Cricket Tournament, has teamed up with Mayor Greg Fischer’s office to create a new playing facility at Hays Kennedy Park.
The facility is being named for Sunil M. Gavaskar, a legend in the sport who is known as “the Muhammad Ali of world cricket.” Gavaskar will be in Louisville for the fields’ grand opening at 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 15.
Mayor Fischer said he expects the city’s $150,000 investment in the fields will reap great rewards.
“We are an increasingly global community, and cricket is already part of our city’s sporting landscape,” he said. “We hope the investment at Hays Kennedy Park will open the sport to more local participation, and the city to even more global opportunities.”
The facility at Hays Kennedy will be the first outside India to be named after an Indian player. In an interview with the Times of India before his visit to Louisville, Gavaskar, who represented India in international matches for more than 16 years before retiring in 1987, said: “It’s a wonderful honor to have a ground named after you, especially in a country where cricket is not the premier sport.”
Photo: Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
The Louisville Cricket Club has produced a quick guide to the sport, which is one of the most popular sports in the world but is relatively unknown by many Americans. You can view the guide here.
Metro Parks and Recreation director Seve Ghose said the long-term goal is for Louisville to become a destination for national and even international cricket competitions, with plans to eventually build a pavilion and practice facilities.
Ten percent of the funding to create the new fields was raised by Louisville Cricket Club’s 50 active playing members.
“We are very grateful to Mayor Fischer and Seve Ghose, for their support,” said Jai Bokey, president of the Louisville Cricket Club.
“This is about much more than just creating a purpose-built space for Louisville Cricket Club to play,” he added. “Cricket is an important part of culture and community life in places like England, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and throughout the West Indies. Having such a superb facility will help to bring people and business to Louisville from all over the cricket-playing world.”
A partnership between Kentuckiana Air Education (KAIRE) and Louisville Parks and Recreation has led to the creation of colorful advertisements stressing an anti-idling message that can be seen approximately a dozen parks throughout Louisville.
The message, “People Idle In Parks – Not Cars,” can be seen on pavement decals affixed to surfaces in high-traffic areas at some of Louisville busiest parks, including Joe Creason, Seneca, Thurman Hutchins and Sun Valley.
The advertisements have been placed in 16 parks with 14 more to follow in upcoming weeks.
“The advertisements are a reminder that parks are spaces where we promote the enjoyment of clean air and a healthy environment,” said Seve Ghose, Director of Parks and Recreation. “We’re encouraging our visitors to turn the engine off if they can, and possibly step outside of their car and go for a walk, and enjoy the surroundings.”
Unnecessary engine idling can create an air pollution “hot spot” in places like parking lots, school pick-up lines, and drive-thru windows. As Louisville’s overall air quality improves and vehicles become cleaner, idling is still a blind spot for many motorists.
“Modern cars don’t belch out black, smoky fumes anymore, but they still pollute the air,” said Air Pollution Control District Director Keith Talley Sr. “This is an easy way to reduce your personal pollution footprint.”
Photo: Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
four Metro Parks and Recreation outdoor pools will remain open one week later this summer to help local families beat the heat. The pools – Camp Taylor (Norton), Algonquin, Sun Valley and Nelson Hornbeck (Fairdale) – were scheduled to close for the season at the end of the day on Saturday, July 28.
Metro Parks officials decided to extend the season one week due to forecasted high temperatures and favorable staffing levels. The last day for the outdoor pools will be Saturday, August 5.
Admission to the pools has also been reduced by $1. Adults can now swim at the pools for $2, and those ages 17 and younger can swim for $1.
Algonquin Park
1614 Cypress Street, 40210
502/772-7907
Open Daily: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. • Closed Tuesdays
Fairdale (Nelson Hornbeck Park)
709 Fairdale Road, 40118
502/361-8270
Open Daily: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. • Closed Mondays
Norton (Camp Taylor Memorial Park)
4201 Lee Avenue, 40213
502/451-0678
Open Daily: 11 a m.- 4 p m • Closed Thursdays
Sun Valley Park
6506 Bethany Lane, 40272
502/935-0302
Open Daily: 1p m – 6 p.m. • Closed Wednesday
Photo: Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
Metro Parks & Recreation is offering an affordable family golfing package at its nine golf courses on Tuesday, July 4.
For only $25, a family of up to four members can play nine holes at any Metro Parks course. The $25 includes greens and cart fees, and families can take advantage of the deal after 4:30 p.m. on July 4.
Families are encouraged to call in advance to book a tee time at the golf course of their choice.
“Our courses are in great shape, and we’re hoping for a lot of play from families this summer,” said Metro Parks and Recreation Director Seve Ghose. “This special leaves plenty of room to play nine holes and enjoy a family barbecue and even fireworks at night.”
Metro Parks golf courses are open from daylight to dark seven days a week.
ABOUT METRO PARKS GOLF:
Louisville’s nine public golf courses offer a quality golfing experience at some of the most affordable prices in the nation. Each course has its own unique character, and some consistently rank among Kentucky’s best and most challenging courses. The nine municipally-owned golf courses meet the needs of everyone from beginners to scratch golfers. For more information, visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/parks/golf-courses
Bobby Nichols Golf Course, 4301 E. Pages Lane, 502/937-9051 (9 holes)
Charlie Vettiner Golf Course, 10207 Mary Dell Lane, 502/267-9958 (18 holes)
Cherokee Golf Course, 2501 Alexander Road, 502/458-9450 (9 holes)
Crescent Hill Golf Course, 3110 Brownsboro Road, 502/896-9193 (9 holes)
Iroquois Golf Course, 1501 Rundill Road, 502/363-9520 (18 holes)
Long Run Golf Course, 1605 Flat Rock Road, 502/245-9015 (18 holes)
Seneca Golf Course, 2300 Pee Wee Reese Blvd, 502/458-9298 (18 holes)
Shawnee Golf Course, 460 Northwestern Parkway, 502/776-9389 (18 holes)
Sun Valley Golf Course, 6505 Bethany Lane, 502/937-9228 (18 holes)
Photo: Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
Those who want to embrace their inner pop, R&B, country or rock star will have a unique opportunity to impress their friends with “Full Contact Karaoke” at the Iroquois Amphitheater on three nights this summer.
Full Contact Karaoke allows a participant to take the stage with a live band to sing their favorite song. The song menu includes hits from Journey, OutKast, Katy Perry, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Chris Stapleton and dozens more. The full song catalog can be found at http://www.fullcontactkaraokeband.com.
The three dates begin with a Friday, June 16 show at the 2,300-seat amphitheater, located just off New Cut Road outside Iroquois Park.
The show will return on Friday, July 14 and again on Friday, August 11. Admission is $5. Gates open at 6:30 and tickets can be purchased at the door, or online at iroquoisamphitheater.com. A full range of refreshments, including alcoholic beverages, are available at the Amphitheater.
“This is the perfect opportunity to get together with a group of friends and to have a party without doing all the planning,” said Mike Hallett, manager of the Iroquois Amphitheater. “For anyone who’s ever dreamed of playing a gig at the Amphitheater, these three nights are going to be a lot of fun.”
