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A new fall tradition will begin on Monday, October 29, as area residents will be able to enjoy use of the Scenic Loop in Cherokee Park car-free and also attend the first-ever Hayride on the Hill, located at Baringer Hill from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. that day.
“We’re looking forward to our inaugural Hayride on the Hill event and are thrilled to welcome the community to one of Louisville’s most cherished Frederick Law Olmsted Parks,” said Layla George, President and CEO of Olmsted Parks Conservancy. “This is a wonderful time of year and we can’t wait to celebrate Halloween with free family fun.”
“Hayride on the Hill is going to be a fun event for the whole family, and I can’t think of a more beautiful backdrop for it than the vivid fall colors in Cherokee Park,” said Seve Ghose, Director of Louisville Parks and Recreation. “You can hop on the hayride at Baringer Hill, or ride your bike or stroll through the park all day without worrying about vehicle traffic. It’s going to be a great day.”
The Scenic Loop and various access points to it will be closed to vehicle traffic beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday, October 29, and will reopen at 9 p.m. that same day. Access to Cherokee Golf Course will still be available via Alexander Road. Meanwhile, at Baringer Hill, the Hayride on the Hill event will include food, beverage and beer vending; free hayrides around the Scenic Loop; live music, face painting and member treat bags provided by Olmsted Parks Conservancy.
Rainbow Blossom is sponsoring this free family event, and The Comfy Cow and ValuMarket are the food and beverage vendors. “We appreciate Rainbow Blossom’s generous event sponsorship and continued support of Olmsted Parks Conservancy,” George said.
See the attached map for the event layout and to locate which entrances to the Scenic Loop will be closed to vehicle access on Monday, October 29.
Officials from the Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Louisville Parks and Recreation, Mayor Greg Fischer, Council President David James, and many park neighbors celebrated the start of phase two of the Victory Park Revitalization Project at the annual Victory Park Day celebration today.
Olmsted Parks Conservancy and Louisville Parks & Recreation began the project in 2017. Phase two, an $640,000 additional park investment, includes a new playground and sprayground; addition to the lodge to allow a covered picnic area; additional tree planting and new connector walking paths.
After several public meetings with Victory Park neighbors in 2016, Olmsted Parks Conservancy and Louisville Parks and Recreation finalized a Master Plan that outlined work needed for the park. The first phase of the project included relocating the basketball court to the northwest side of the park to create a larger open area for activities; new walking path, more than a quarter mile in length; additional lighting, benches and 35 trees. Phase one was completed this spring.
Financial support for more than $1.1 million revitalization project, came from donors of Olmsted Parks Conservancy’s Campaign for Extraordinary Parks, including Humana Foundation, James Graham Brown Foundation, PNC Foundation and Kosair Charities along with support from City of Louisville, Mayor Greg Fischer, Metro Council President David James and Louisville Parks and Recreation.
“Victory Park is very important part of this neighborhood and Olmsted Parks Conservancy’s wants to complete projects that ensure the surrounding residents can enjoy a beautiful, safe and clean park,” said Layla George, President/CEO, Olmsted Parks Conservancy.
“It has taken the cooperation of a lot of partners, and a lot of hard work to get to phase two of the project in Victory Park,” said Parks and Recreation Director Seve Ghose. “It’s going to be exciting to see it continue and evolve into a true source of pride for the neighborhood.”
“Parks are a community resource, and we have world-class parks because the community comes together to care for them,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “The Olmsted Parks Conservancy is a critical partner in the effort to maintain parks like Victory, and the relationship they have with Metro Government and Parks and Recreation is so important to this city.”
“The Community appreciates all of the changes we have seen in making Victory Park a true neighborhood park and they look forward to their continued partnership with Metro Parks and the Olmsted Conservancy as we move ahead with Phase II. I want to thank everyone for their commitment to improving Victory Park for the people who live here and the people and families who come to use the park for their enjoyment,” said Metro Council President David James, who represents District 6, where Victory Park is located.
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.
Layla George, a Louisville native, joins Olmsted Parks Conservancy as its next President and CEO. George has a broad background in non-profit leadership, fundraising, and land conservation along with experience in farming and the local foods movement.
“Frederick Law Olmsted had a vision for these urban parks to be open and accessible natural areas that should be forever protected and preserved. Olmsted Parks Conservancy has done a magnificent job carrying out this vision and it is an honor to be joining such an important and dynamic organization,” stated George.
Most recently, George served as the Director of Development for Louisville Public Media for five years. During her tenure, she successfully completed a $7 million capital campaign and increased revenue from individuals by 185%.
Vanderbilt University Owen School of Business, in recognition of the increasing importance of non-profit organizations, awarded George a full-tuition scholarship for an MBA degree. She will graduate this spring. She is a member of the Leadership Louisville Class of 2014.
George arrives just as Olmsted Parks Conservancy is ready to implement a new Strategic Plan to strengthen its work to restore, enhance and forever protect the Frederick Law Olmsted Parks and Parkways. The Conservancy has invested more than $35 million to keep these valuable community assets at a high standard.
“Layla’s success in fundraising, her management experience and feedback from all who have worked with her make clear that she is the ideal leader to take the Conservancy into its next critical phase of growth,” said Earl Jones, Olmsted Parks Conservancy Board Chair.
The first day in the office for George will be February 5.
