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Photo: Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
Metro Parks and Recreation will be celebrating Arbor Day during the entire month of April. We know you love trees as much as we do!
Our city’s tree canopy includes approximately 270 species of trees found in the nearly 7,000 acres at Jefferson Memorial Forest and throughout 6,600 acres in 120 parks and six Olmsted-designed parkways.
We’ll be sharing interesting facts about trees throughout the month at our blog, Common Ground, where we’ve asked staff from our Forestry division to share their thoughts on trees and even asked them for their favorites. That’s where you come in! During the month of April, we’re also asking the public to share pictures of their favorite trees at our Instagram page (@loumetroparks). Those who do so can drop by our administrative offices afterwards at Joe Creason Park and pick up a free Tree Identification Poster, beginning at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 5.
We’ll make the posters available until 5 p.m. Friday, April 28 – but you must participate (and share your picture/handle with us when you pick up). Also, only one poster per participant, please.
For more information, visit Common Ground here, and be sure to share your pics on Instagram.
Photo: Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation, Councilman David James, and many park neighbors celebrated the start of the much-anticipated revitalization of Victory Park.
After several public meetings with Victory Park neighbors in 2016, Olmsted Parks Conservancy and Louisville Metro Parks & Recreation finalized a Master Plan that outlined work needed for the park. The first phase of the project has started and includes relocating the basketball court to the northwest side of the park to create a larger open area for activities in the center of the park. A new walking path, more than a quarter mile in length, will surround the open area and will be ADA accessible as well as the installation of additional lighting, benches and trees will be part of phase one. Expected completion is early summer 2017.
“I’m very excited to see the construction begin at Victory Park. I’m thankful to Olmsted Parks Conservancy for all the hard work and financing they have put into this project. I know the citizens are excited to see their ideas come to fruition,” commented Councilman David James.
Donors to Olmsted Parks Conservancy’s recent Campaign for Extraordinary Parks, including the Humana Foundation, James Graham Brown Foundation, and PNC Foundation, makes this $467,000 project possible.
“Olmsted Parks Conservancy is excited to celebrate this project, in partnership with Metro Parks and Recreation, Mayor Fischer, Councilman David James, and the California neighborhood. Along with our donors, we are thrilled to be part of preserving this historic park, while providing modern amenities for this much loved greenspace,” said Rachel Kennedy, President/CEO Olmsted Parks Conservancy.
“The upcoming improvements to Victory Park is a testament to the need to adapt to the times and welcome change to make the site more welcoming while allowing for better and greater access. The near-thirty-year partnership with Olmsted Parks Conservancy continues to thrive,” stated Seve Ghose, Director Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation.
Later this summer, as part of the second phase, construction will begin to install a new playground, splash pad, picnic shelter and arbor.
Victory Park is located in the historic California neighborhood and was designed by the nationally significant Olmsted firm between 1919 and 1923. The park, which was originally named Greenwood Park, due to the presence of its magnificent trees, received its current name, Victory Park, six months after the end of World War I.
Olmsted Parks Conservancy and Louisville Metro Parks & Recreation will oversee the project.
Photo: Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
Louisville Metro Parks & Recreation is accepting team registrations for spring athletic leagues – softball, kickball, flag football and basketball. Games begin the week of May 14. Participants must be 18 or older. Registration deadline is April 28, or until leagues are filled.
Metro Parks athletic leagues offer year-round opportunities for residents to improve their fitness, display their competitive spirit and socialize with others. Spring league sports include:
Softball: men’s, women’s and co-ed leagues. Games are played Sunday through Friday at Camp Taylor, Highview and Seneca parks. The fee is $375-$425 per team.
Kickball: co-ed leagues. Games are played Sunday through Friday at Camp Taylor and Seneca parks. The fee per team is $375.
Flag Football: men’s leagues are Thursday evenings at Seneca Park. The fee per team is $400.
Basketball: men’s leagues are played on Sunday afternoons/evenings at Cyril Allgeier Community Center. The fee per team is $450.
To pre-register for an Athletic League, participants can use this online form: Adult Leagues Pre-Registration. Payment can be made over the phone with credit card (Mastercard/Visa), or in person, by cash, check or credit card, at the Athletics Office located at the Metro Parks and Recreation Athletic Office at the Cyril Allgeier Community Center, 4101 Cadillac Court.
Payment must be made in full at the time of registration in order to reserve team’s place for the season. Registrations after the deadline will be subject to a $35 late registration processing fee.
For More Information:
More information concerning league offerings, registration forms, rules and team roster sheets can be found on the Metro Parks website at https://louisvilleky.gov/government/parks/athletics. Leagues are first-come, first-serve. No mail-in or over-the-phone registrations are accepted. Any questions please contact the Athletics office at 502-574-4515 or by email at athletics@louisvilleky.gov
Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing will celebrate the return of spring with its annual Plant and Herb Sale on April 14-15, and an Easter egg hunt will be also be held on the grounds on Saturday, April 15 for more family-friendly fun.
“We decided to add the Easter egg hunt this year to bring a dimension to the sale that would attract more families to the beautiful grounds at Riverside,” said Seve Ghose, Director of Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation. “Throughout 2017, it’s part of our plan to increase our recreation footprint with a slew of special events at Riverside, that will include movie nights, concerts, a kite festival and more. Stay tuned!”
The Riverside Garden Club will offer a variety of herbs, perennials, annuals, vegetables, Kentucky native species, heirloom tomatoes, gardening items and good gardening advice.
The sale will take place on Friday, April 14 from 2-7 p.m. and from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 15. All proceeds of the sale support the historic gardening program at Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing and its mission to interpret historic farm life on the Ohio River.
Riverside’s Garden Club maintains a kitchen garden near the Farnsley-Moremen House where volunteers grow heirloom vegetables, herbs and flowers.
Interpretive programs and events about historic gardening are part of Riverside’s offerings at various times throughout the year.
In conjunction with the sale on Saturday, Metro Parks and Recreation will hold Easter egg hunts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hunts for children ages 1-5 (11-11:30 a.m.); 6-8 (11:30-noon); 9-11 (noon-12:30 p.m.) and 12-14 (12:30-1 p.m.).
Admission to the hunts is $2 per child. If there is rain, the hunts will take place on Sunday, April 16 from 1-5 p.m. Food vendors, music, arts and crafts will also be available for the kids.
For more information: 502/935-6809 or email info@riverside-landing.org
Regular Hours of Operation:
Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing is open for guided tours Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Riverside is closed every Monday.) Admission for tours of the historic Farnsley-Moremen House: $6/Adults; $5/Seniors; $3/Children (ages 6-12); Children 5 and under are free.
Directions to Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing from Downtown Louisville:
Take I-65 to the Gene Snyder Freeway West. Go approximately 9 miles on the Gene Snyder. After crossing over Dixie Highway, take a left at the stop light onto Lower River Road. The entrance to Riverside will be on your right after about 1/8 mile.
Mayor Greg Fischer reminded parents today that there are many free or low-cost options for keeping students active and engaged during Spring Break, which starts Friday (March 31) for Jefferson County Public Schools and runs through next week (April 3-7) for JCPS and most private and Catholic schools.
“From Spring Break camps, to family picnics in our parks, to library and recreation center activities like an African Drum and Dance Workshop, there’s no reason for kids to be idle next week,” the Mayor said. “There are lots of options for the kind of experiences that stimulate their brains, get their bodies moving and keep them occupied and engaged.”
JCPS “Literacy &” camps
Families with third- through fifth-graders in Jefferson County Public Schools still have an opportunity to sign their children up for JCPS’ “Literacy &” camps at five locations. The free camps combine reading with character-building activities such as chess, karate, hip-hop, photography and robotics.
Registration is underway, and space is available for up to 30 students at each of the five elementary school locations: Crums Lane, Engelhard, Rangeland, Maupin and Wheatley. The camps will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 3-7. To register a child, families may call (502) 485-3631.
Metro Parks and Recreation
From Monday to Friday, April 3-7, many Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation community centers are offering Spring Break camps, which generally run 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. There are fees, ranging from $20 to $80 a week, which cover field trips, as well as organized games and activities. Find more details at www.bestparksever.com.
In addition, the Parkhill Community Center, 1703 South 13th St., is hosting an African Drum and Dance Workshop from 10 a.m. to noon each day next week. A $30 fee covers the workshop and performance. Call 637-3044 for more information. And the South Louisville Community Center, 2911 Taylor Boulevard, is hosting a free Robby Valentine Spring Break Sports Camp Tuesday and Wednesday, April 4-5, from 1-3 p.m. for ages 8-16. Call 574-3206 for information.
Other Spring Break activities sponsored by the community centers include:
- Family Night Out Parkhill Community Center, 1703 South Thirteenth Street; 637-3044 Friday, April 7, 6-8 p.m. Free kickball, games and movies.
- International Movie Night, Beechmont Community Center, 205 West Wellington Avenue; 361-5484. Friday, April 7, 6:30–8:30 p.m. Fee: $5, includes popcorn, cotton candy and snow cones.
- Fun at the Park, Newburg Park; 456-8122. Wednesday, April 5, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Free activities and cookout; ages 6-18.
- Skating and Gattiland Field Trip, Newburg Community Center , 4810 Exeter Avenue; 456-8122 For ages 10-18. Runs 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.; $10 fee.
- Cornhole Tournament and Brunch Newburg Community Center , 4810 Exeter Avenue; 456-8122. Free for all ages; 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Louisville Free Public Library
The library kicks off Spring Break week with its “Super Silly Saturday” on April 1 at the Southwest Regional Library.
Join special guests Elephant and Piggie for an afternoon of fun activities, learning stations, and all kinds of silliness! The event also features special performances by musical guest Jim Gill and StageOne Family Theatre, and each child attending will receive a free book. This program is funded by the Jefferson County Community Early Childhood Council and Junior League of Louisville, and is suggested for preschool-age children and their families.
Here are some other library events for Spring Break week, planned in addition to regular story times at each of the library’s branches:
Saturday, April 01, 2017
- 10:15 a.m. STEM Saturday Iroquois
- 10:30 a.m. Lego Build Challenge Jeffersontown
- 11 a.m. Preschool Party: Earth Day! Newburg
- 3:30 p.m. Super-Silly Saturday! Southwest
Monday, April 03, 2017
- 2 p.m. Milo and Otis Main Library
- 2 p.m. Everyone Loves Cupcakes Storytime Southwest
- 2 p.m. Money as You Grow Book Club Western
- 2 p.m. Teddy Bear’s Picnic Jeffersontown
- 2:30 p.m. Tween Art Workshop St. Matthews
- 3 p.m. Robotics Throwdown Crescent Hill
- 6 p.m. Family Movie Night Shawnee
- 6:30 p.m. Girls’ STEAM Club Portland
Tuesday, April 04, 217
- 10 a.m. Game Day Middletown
- 2 p.m. Family Movie Time Main Library
- 2 p.m. Movie: The Princess & the Frog Southwest
- 2 p.m. Afternoon Movie: The LEGO Movie Jeffersontown
- 3 p.m. Digital Literacy Event Fern Creek
- 3 p.m. Western Writing Workshop Western
- 3:30 p.m. Guess Who: Book Edition Shawnee
Wednesday, April 05, 217
- 12:30 p.m. Lunch & Learn Fern Creek
- 1 p.m. Nature Camp/ Jeff Memorial Forest Shively
- 2 p.m. Doc McStuffins Dramatic Play Southwest
- 2 p.m. Lego Squad Main Library
- 2:30 p.m. Spy Lab Crescent Hill
- 3:30 PM Robotics Throwdown Shawnee
- 6 p.m. Perler Beads: Pokemon-Style Southwest
Thursday, April 06, 217
- 10:15 a.m. Brightside Kids Crescent Hill
- 10:30 a.m. Puzzle & Lego Day! Middletown
- 11 a.m. Minecraft Middletown
- 2 p.m. Fun in the Spring Day Sun Main Library
- 2 p.m. Money as You Grow Book Club Western
- 6 p.m. Family Fort Night Southwest
- 6 p.m. Thursday Night Theater: Freaky Friday Main Library
Friday, April 07, 217
- 10:30 a.m. Friday Dance Party: Silly Dance! St. Matthews
- 11 a.m. Brown Bag Storytime Main Library
- 11 a.m. Come Play Yoga Crescent Hill
- 1 p.m. Brightside Kids Newburg
- 2 p.m. Stories with Snakes Main Library
- 2:30 p.m. Dogs vs. Cats Family Storytime Crescent Hill
Saturday, April 08, 217
- 10 a.m. Bunnies, Bunnies, Bunnies Family Storytime Southwest
- 10 a.m. English Conversation Club Bon Air
- 10 a.m. Preschool Party Main Library
- 11 a.m. Tell a Story with the Magic Tree House Shawnee
- 1 p.m. Lego Lab & Movie Portland
- 2 p.m. Brightside Kids Main Library
- 2 p.m. Dia! Celebrate Diversity Okolona
The Louisville Zoo
The Louisville Zoo’s spring break camps are full, but families should keep in mind that the Zoo is a living classroom and a perfect place to keep young minds active, while parents get in a little exercise. The best way to visit for families is a membership, and the Zoo has many different packages, including a dual membership with the Kentucky Science Center. Learn more at https://louisvillezoo.org/member-benefits/
Metro Parks and Recreation’s Natural Areas Division, along with the Fairdale, Camp Taylor and Pleasure Ridge Park fire departments and the Olmsted Parks Conservancy, will be carrying out a prescribed burn of approximately 7 acres in Jefferson Memorial Forest tomorrow afternoon beginning at 1 p.m.
The burn will be in the Scott’s Gap section of the forest, located in southwest Louisville. The area is bordered by Scott’s Gap and Blevins Gap roads, and the smoke from the fire may be visible to nearby residents and motorists who are traveling on Dixie Highway and the Gene Snyder Expressway.
Fire management of natural areas was a commonly-used ecological practice by Native Americans as a way to reduce non-native cool season grasses and re-establish prairie habitat.
The burn is expected to last from 90 minutes to few hours and will be monitored until completely out. A similar event is being planned at Iroquois Park’s Summit Field in south Louisville. Officials will monitor weather conditions and decide on the appropriate date for the second burn.
The Louisville/Jefferson County Environmental Trust is hosting a workshop on land stewardship issues on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at Historic Locust Grove, 561 Blankenbaker Lane.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Nature Conservancy and others estimate that the annual cost of invasive plants and animals to the U.S. economy is $120 billion a year, with over 100 million acres (an area roughly the size of California) suffering from invasive plant infestations.
Compounding the problem is that these harmful invaders spread at astonishing rates. Such infestations of invasive plants and animals can negatively affect property values, agricultural productivity, water quality, public utility operations, tourism, outdoor recreation, and the overall health of ecosystems.
Kentucky and Louisville have their share of invasive plants which are evident essentially anywhere there is a patch of dirt – parks, school yards, street and highway rights-of-way, private yards, and vacant lots. The workshop will take a look at the problem and how various agencies, nonprofit organizations and individuals are addressing it.
Who should attend this workshop?
“Whether the land you care about is a small residential yard in the city, a suburban lawn, a working farm, a scenic estate or a public park, chances are there are invasive plants that detract from the ecological and historic integrity of the land. It can be a daunting task to tackle an invasive plant removal and landscape restoration project. This workshop will give you the resources, knowledge and inspiration to get started,” said Lisa Hite, planning manager for Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation.
Speakers will report on the latest research, lessons learned and future plans for invasive plant management, ecological restoration, healthy tree canopy and historic landscape management in Louisville’s Olmsted Parks, Locust Grove, the Jefferson Memorial Forest and other Metro Parks and Recreation Natural Areas, Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, the Parklands of Floyds Fork, Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve, the Lower Howard’s Creek Nature and Historic Preserve in Clark County as well as several private properties.
All sessions will include discussion and practical considerations for landowners who have questions about how to improve their own piece of the earth or those who want to help the on-going work in public parks and preserves.
Cost of the workshop is $35 for regular attendees and $15 for students and includes a box lunch. Reservations are required by January 30. To download the registration form, click here. Please call (502) 574-PARK (7275) or e-mail brandi.hornbuckle@louisvilleky.gov for more information.