LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- As the weather warms up this spring, more people will be utilizing Louisville parks, many of which will see a lot of change in 2024.  

Across the city, the Olmsted Parks Conservancy is investing nearly $10 million in improvements to dozens of parks, money that's come from everywhere from federal funds to grants to private donors.

Here are some of the highlights:

Chickasaw Park

Louisville Parks & Recreation drained the pond at Chickasaw Park in west Louisville, aiming to improve water quality and fishing opportunities as well as add canoe and kayak access to visitors. There will be limestone seatwalls, columns and pavers that crews are building by hand. 

"They're over there making it bigger ... where people can come and park and do all that good stuff," William Smith, who lives near Chickasaw Park and frequently works out there, said Monday. "It's really going to be good."

LG&E will also install updated walking path lights at the park, and Olmsted is coordinating with Louisville Parks & Recreation to install and "butterfly and bee" pollinator meadow in honor of Muhammad Ali.

The project was funded by $2.5 million from the American Rescue Plan.

Elliott Park

A $2.9 million project at Elliott Park in Louisville's Russell neighborhood calls for a new neighborhood sprayground, dining plaza, walking paths and more.

Two blocks Elliott Park from the new West Louisville Norton Hospital, Elliott Park is one of seven parks in the Olmsted Park Conservancy's historic park system. Once called Eclipse Park, it was the original home to the Louisville Eclipse and the Louisville Colonels of Major League Baseball until 1892, when a fire at the ballpark forced the owners to build anew nearby. 

The project was funded in several ways:

  • $725,000 raised by the Olmsted Parks Conservancy from local donors, including the James Graham Brown Foundation and LDG Development
  • $650,000 from former Mayor Greg Fischer's fiscal year 2022 budget
  • $500,000 allocated by Fischer from American Rescue Plan funding
  • $1.1 million approved by Metro Council in 2023 at Greenberg's recommendation

"It is wonderful to see with the housing going up in the neighborhood," said Jason Hindenach, project director of the Olmsted Parks Conservancy. "You got the Goodwill job placement center and employment center going up, so the timing is perfect to restore this park."

Elliott Park Construction

A $2.9 million project at Elliott Park in Louisville's Russell neighborhood calls for a new neighborhood sprayground, dining plaza, walking paths and more. April 1, 2024. (WDRB Photo)

Tyler Park

Crews are beginning work to build a $350,000 stage and pavilion at Tyler Park near Barret Avenue and Eastern Parkway that will host an annual jazz festival, the Tyler Park Jazz Series.

The project was funded through a donation from a long-time park supporter.

"It's really nice to see the support and the teamwork that it takes to get these things done," Hindenach said.

Olmsted said the stage is the "last capital improvement of the Tyler Park Restoration Plan that was initiative in 2018."

Rendering of Tyler Park

(Photo courtesy of Olmsted Parks Conservancy)

For more information on Olmsted's projects, click here.

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