Proposal for park rangers in Louisville aims to enhance safety, cleanliness of city parks

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A new proposal could put park rangers in Louisville, but the program would need money from the city.

Louisville Parks and Recreation wants to add park rangers to watch over the areas set aside for outdoor activities, but the new program is dependent upon the city budget.

Calvin Goodwin was enjoying the basketball court at Cherokee Park on Friday.

"I walk the track sometimes, but usually I just come out here and enjoy it, because it's nice and peaceful. It's clean," he said.

Goodwin said he comes to the park every week and doesn't see a reason against adding park rangers in the city.

"(I) don't really know the full scope of their responsibilities, but I mean, always having somebody on hand to assist is always kind of a good thing or keep an eye on things, so I feel like it can't go wrong," he said.

While many enjoy the amenities local parks offer, some parks in the city have dealt with problems like vandalism, shootings, ATVs and dirt bikes driving through the grounds and there was a recent report of a man exposing himself in a local park.

"The problem to solve was very clear in regards to illicit behavior, misuse of our public parks, that at times, resulting in our parks' amenities being un-usable and inaccessible to the community," said Bridget Frailley, executive administrator of parks safety, during a budget hearing in front of Metro Council members on Thursday, May 30.

It was during that hearing where Parks and Recreation director Jason Canuel discussed the idea of hiring park rangers.

"It's not necessarily an enforcement arms of Parks. It's more of people being in the parks with enforcement power. So they are Parks employees," Canuel said.

The proposed budget from Mayor Craig Greenberg's administration includes $300,000 for a new Parks Ranger Program, but deputy mayor Nicole George said this idea is still in the very early stages.

"We are not at the place in terms of program development yet. Our work is actually ongoing and does not wrap until June," she explained.

The idea of park rangers is appealing to Susan Oppel, who lives near Cherokee Park.

"I think it's a great idea. I think there's a lot that goes on in our parks, at night, especially. We live right in this area, and a lot of trash, litter is left over in the morning when we walk through," Oppel said.

George said the proposal would be for the rangers to be sworn with enforcement capabilities. Frailley said the number of park rangers would depend on funding.

"We don't have a number set yet because this would be -- obviously it would be a new program, a new pilot program -- and then based on the funding, we would have to see how that would, how many that we could do. You know, potentially two to three, depending on the money that's proposed," said Frailley.

Frailley said the goal would be that rangers would have the ability and be able to access all the parks. She said there are 123 parks.

Metro Council has to approve the city budget by July 1. Parks and Recreation said if passed, it would like to the program begin as soon as all the logistics are worked out.

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