Louisville leaders unveil plans for outdoor learning center at Shawnee Park

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — City leaders unveiled renderings Tuesday of a new outdoor learning center at Louisville's Shawnee Park.

The Shawnee Outdoor Learning Center will expand outdoor education with an outdoor classroom and community space for residents in west Louisville.

"This project, which had been dormant for a decade, was designed by the community, builds on our historic parks investments and will serve thousands of children throughout our entire community," Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said in a news release.

It's part of the West Louisville Outdoor Recreation Initiative. Leaders said it will serve as a hub for education, community meetings, performances and special events both inside and outdoors. It will also allow programs at Shawnee Park to be held during any season.

"There was a lack of outdoor education and recreation opportunities in west Louisville, so this facility allows us to expand that to double capacity," said Jessica Kane, Louisville Parks and Recreation administrator. "We serve 2,500 youth a year, and we really want to increase that tremendously and bring in partner programming so that it's programmed year-round."

Officials said the center will also serve as a "regional hub" to help grow Louisville Parks and Recreation's Engaging Children Outdoors programming.

"ECHO gives kids the chance to be adventurous, explore, ask questions, and build a real connection to the world around them," Michelle King, executive director of Louisville Parks and Recreation, said in a news release. "We're already seeing that impact with more than 2,500 children served each year, and we're hoping to double that number with this new infrastructure."

The city secured $10 million for the project, with help from nonprofit Wilderness Louisville and "other partners."

To learn more about the project, the ECHO program or the West Louisville Outdoor Recreation Initiative, click here.