LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A large crowd gathered Monday night to discuss the future of the 60-acre Cherokee Golf Course. 

The course was founded in 1895, four years after famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and the city of Louisville established Cherokee Park. 

Those who attended the meetings gave feedback on a proposal from the Olmsted Parks Conservancy for investments to close the course and revitalize it into active parkland. The cost for the city to maintain the park would be $1.3 million. 

"From an accessibility standpoint, it would open the park up to a greater number of people so they can utilize this land," said Amin Omidy, vice chairman of the Olmsted Conservancy.

Many of those who frequent golf the course want it to stay.

Cherokee Golf Course

Players take to the links Monday afternoon at Cherokee Golf Course.

"This one is, I think, the most important city course, maybe beside Seneca," said Billy Kunkel, a local golfer. "I think it needs to be on the forefront of us keeping it due to its history and also how much everyone loves it." 

The city of Louisville currently has 10 municipally owned golf courses, and Cherokee is one of three nine-hole courses in the system. It is operated by the parks department and doesn't have a PGA professional or nonprofit to help.

Other golfers said it is becoming rundown and it's time for a change. 

Cherokee Golf Course.jpg

Cherokee Golf Course

"I think it could go to something else," said Ben Hoertz, another local golfer. "It will make the park bigger, which will be really cool, for it's kind of a Central Park in the city."

Following this second of two public meetings, Olmsted and Louisville Parks and Recreation will compile resident feedback and present it to Metro Council which will take a final vote.

If the decision closes, more feedback will be taken about what to add to the course, possibly adding trails, the clubhouse turning into a restaurant and adding paddle-boats on the lake.

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