LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- City leaders, community partners and even the Cincinnati Bengals joined forces Tuesday to break ground on New Walnut Street Park, a long-awaited addition to the Russell neighborhood.
The 5.7-acre park, located at the corner of South 13th Street and West Muhammad Ali Boulevard, will feature a splash pad, playground, pickleball and tennis courts, and a multi-sport synthetic turf field. The turf field is partially funded by a $250,000 grant from the Cincinnati Bengals and the NFL Foundation Grassroots Program.
Louisville Central Community Center CEO Kevin Fields, who grew up in the neighborhood, reflected on the park’s significance.
"The area that we are breaking ground on today was my childhood playground," Fields said.
Mayor Craig Greenberg emphasized the park's role in strengthening the community.
"This park is going to help the 10th Street Cardinals bring home more national championships but it's also going to be a gathering place for the entire community of Russell," Greenberg said.
The 10th Street Cardinals, a youth football team that recently won a national championship, will use the new field as their home base. Players said it is a welcome upgrade.
"The field we were at didn't have lights, and the quality wasn't good," one player said.
The park is directly across from the newly redeveloped Beecher Terrace community, a 620-unit mixed-income housing complex expected to be complete in September 2025.
Funding for the first phase of the project comes from the American Rescue Plan Act, Louisville Metro Parks, the Louisville Metro Housing Authority and other key partners.
"When people and organizations come together, good things happen in communities," said Taylor Conklin, director of community engagement for the Bengals.
New Walnut Street Park is expected to open in 2025.
Walnut Street, once a symbol of Black prosperity, suffered significant demolition during urban renewal in the late 1960s. Earlier this month, a historical marker was unveiled to serve as a reminder of the area's rich legacy.
Related Stories:
- Money from Cincinnati Bengals to help fund park in Louisville's Russell neighborhood
- Louisville honors historic Walnut Street with new historical marker
- Once a booming strip of black business, Walnut Street faded from Louisville's memory for failed Urban Renewal
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