Site map reveals the vision for a reimagined Belvedere in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The future of Louisville's Belvedere is becoming more clear now that project leaders have unveiled a site map for the iconic overlook.

The plan calls for various areas throughout the Belvedere's 5.5 acres, including an event lawn, city and river plazas, gardens, a play space and splash pad. The map, released on a new website for the project, precedes the final design for a "reimagined Belvedere" which is set to be unveiled in August.

"We're really trying to invite the public to look at that site, look at the map and let us know what types of activities they want to see, what type of events and programming," said Layla George, the Belvedere project executive.

This comes more than a year after Mayor Craig Greenberg unveiled the first renderings of a reimagined Belvedere, showing a pavilion with a bold design perched above Interstate 64. But a new vision for the Belvedere project shifts the emphasis away from the interstate overlook and toward the mostly grassy plaza near the Muhammad Ali Center and the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts.

"They couldn't construct it from the river because of all the barge traffic, so that meant that we couldn't put a big structure on top of the overlook," George said, also citing the original plan's cost concerns.

While the new site map reveals the scope of the plans, project leaders want to hear from the public before finalizing the design. A survey link asking people what they'd like to see in the various areas is on the new website.

So far, George said, people are interested in both regular programming and special events. Suggestions have included live music, frequent festivals, activities for kids and options for food.

"You can have the most beautiful designed park, but it doesn't mean that people are going to go there," she said. "So you really have to program and activate the space and make it work for people who live here."

The total cost of the project hasn't been revealed but will be clear when the final design is released in August. Planning documents from 2025 estimated a cost of $125 million before the design changed.

According to project leaders, millions of dollars in funding have already been secured.

Metro Council included $10 million in funding in the 2025 fiscal budget, and Greenberg said he plans to ask the council for more funds in the coming budget proposal.

Two years ago, Kentucky lawmakers approved $100 million in funds for six downtown Louisville projects, including the Belvedere. Just weeks ago, the general assembly approved another $90 million for those projects.

More than $7 million in federal funding was secured by Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and Democratic U.S. Congressman Morgan McGarvey.

"We're going to start some profit fundraising to close the gap and bring it all together," George said.

While design plans are in flux, one aspect of the project is not: addressing longstanding structural concerns at the Belvedere. A 2015 city-commissioned report recommended a new waterproofing system and pavers on the elevated overlook to address water leaks, as well as new drains on the plaza and other fixes.

The first phase of work is scheduled for this fall. That construction will focus on reinforce the parking garage beneath to handle more weight for food trucks and emergency and service vehicles.

The goal is to finish the entire project by 2030.