Portland residents look forward to the finished Waterfront Expansion Project into west Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Signs of progress are visible along the Ohio River, as crews continue expanding Waterfront Park into west Louisville.

The site was very active Friday afternoon. This month, crews are currently working on the first phase of the West Louisville Waterfront Expansion Project. They already have a skeleton of what will be a bathroom and an event space.

Dirt piles, rebar, and large equipment pave the way for Waterfront Park to expand into Portland.

"It'll be awesome," Gina Pendleton, who lives within walking distance, said.

She's excited to see it come to life.

"That's a good experience for our children. They need it today in this society," Pendleton said. "It beats them being on Facebook and it'll get them to interact with each other. It's a blessing."

For 10,000 nearby residents, the finished park will provide about 22 aces of new green space along the Ohio River, just about a 20-minute walk away from their doorsteps.

"So, they'll have immediate direct access to Waterfront Park," Bilitski said.

Waterfront Park Executive Director Deborah Bilitski also said the $50 million project will connect downtown to west Louisville.

"We anticipate with the amenities that we're building here that this area of Waterfront Park will likewise draw people from throughout the region," Bilitski said.

The play area will feature construction equipment to teach children about the area's history. Bilitski said PlayPort's design fosters creativity, critical thinking, and imagination.

“(They can ask about) gravity for example, or physic concepts, like how you can use mechanic advantage to lift heavy things, or other things like how do you stir a ship --- what is navigation?," Bilitski said.

This first phase of the project should be finished later this year. The ultimate vision shows the park stretching between 10th and 14th streets.

"(It will provide) more activities for our youth, give them something to do, to interact with others and come together as one," Pendleton said.

For a closer look at the park plans, click here. To read more about the westward expansion, click here.

For more information on how you can donate or provide feedback, click here.

Waterfront Park Expansion Project Stories:

• Signs of progress showing on expansion of Waterfront Park into west Louisville
• Construction underway on 'experiential learning area' as part of Waterfront Park expansion
• Construction underway on Waterfront Park expansion leaders hope will 'energize' area of west Louisville
• Neighbors eagerly anticipate the start of Waterfront Park expansion to west Louisville
• Westward expansion of Waterfront Park will include 3,000-square-foot community center
• Waterfront Park's expansion to bring 'extraordinary' experience to Louisville
• With 18-story tunnel complete, MSD hands off downtown Louisville site for Waterfront Park expansion
• State leaders hope Waterfront Park expansion into west Louisville will transform area
• Expansion of Waterfront Park to west Louisville will begin this fall

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