Louisville parks, libraries set for upgrades thanks to federal funding

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- More than a dozen Louisville parks and libraries are getting some long overdue attention.

The city is utilizing funding from the American Rescue Plan for updates and renovations across Jefferson County.

Marla Blakely goes to Petersburg Park in Newburg to walk around.

"We use the park every day when it's sunny," Blakey said.

Clarice Murphy walks her dog around the park as well.

"In the summertime, you see a lot of ids, a lot of adults, everybody walking," Murphy said.

Petersburg Park on Indian Trail is a popular spot, but like a lot of local parks, it's more than 50 years old and in need of updates.

Jason Canuel, director of Louisville Parks and Recreation, sees the aging facilities first-hand.

"The average age of our facilities is they were built in the 60s and 70s," Canuel said. "We've been attempting and trying to convince anybody who will listen, the deferred maintenance is a real thing."

In December, Mayor Craig Greenberg and Metro Council agreed to spend $25 million in American Rescue Plan funding to renovate four library branches and deferred maintenance projects at parks and community centers.

"Our deferred maintenance list is a list of projects that things we know that are broken and we know we need to fix them, but we just never had had the money to do so," Canuel said.

More than a dozen parks and libraries, all outside of the Watterson Expressway, will get a makeover. There will be a new spray park in Petersburg, upgrades to the Algonquin and Norton pools and three other large projects.

"That's the HVAC replacements at Barrytown Community Center, Shawnee Community Center and California Community Center," Canuel said.

People who use the parks are excited about the upgrades and hope there are more to come,

"If they build it, they will come," Blakey said.

The projects are expected to be finished within the next 12 months.

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