LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The city is transforming the downtown area near Louisville's hospitals.
"The heat in downtown Louisville is so severe," said Mary Radford, a hospital employee.
In the heart of Louisville's medical district, health care professionals, patients and students will be getting a brand new park.
"We need green spaces in downtown desperately," Radford said.
The public park will be located in what used to be the Community Corrections Center on Chestnut that's been vacant since 2020.
"I think more people come downtown for health care than anything else in this community," UofL Healthcare CEO Tom Miller said.
It'll provide extra downtown lighting, food trucks, shade from the sun and more.
"It's a great idea, especially for employees and patients to have that bit of a respite and some natural areas to relax in," Radford said.
It's the first of many redevelopment phases as LOUMED plans to rebuild 250 acres spanning across 22 city blocks over the next five years.
"This is a concrete jungle and although many fabulous things and great work is happening within our institutions, we want our outside to be just as phenomenal," LOUMED Executive Director Nadareca Thibeaux said.
The project is thanks to Jefferson Community & Technical College, UofL Health, Norton Health care and the University of Louisville's Health Science Center.
In the heart of Louisville's medical district, healthcare professionals, patients, and students will be getting a brand new park.
"It is a great investment not just for those four institutions but every person in this city and every person in this commonwealth," Mayor Craig Greenberg said.
Hospital employees are eager to see how it all comes together.
City leaders said the former jail will be demolished in October. The first phase is expected to be completed by late next year.
With an estimated timeline of three to five years, this project is in its initial planning phase, bolstered by $1.75 million in city funding.
Additionally, Governor Andy Beshear and the Kentucky General Assembly have allocated a $100 million one-time budget expenditure to Louisville Metro Government for the revitalization of downtown, which includes LOUMED.
The four anchor institutions have and will be contributing more than $560 million to projects and investments within the district over the next three to five years.
JCTC is expanding and enhancing its campus through the ‘Jefferson Rising’ project, University of Louisville is planning a transformative Health Sciences Simulation Center and Collaboration Hub, UofL Health is nearing completion on an expansion and Norton Healthcare recently implemented a new state-of-the-art labor and delivery unit and expanded neonatal intensive care unit.
For more information about LOUMED, click here.
Related Stories:
- LOUMED ambassadors make progress in first year
- LOUMED moves forward with vision to improve downtown Louisville Medical district
- Louisville's mayor unveils legislative agenda with heavy emphasis on public safety
- 4 of Louisville's biggest employers join forces in hops of transforming the heart of downtown
- JCTC says $90 million expansion will revolutionize student outcomes, transform downtown Louisville
- Proposal would create new LOUMED district in downtown Louisville
Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
