Louisville Olmsted Parks Conservancy

TREE OF HEAVEN: The name is a LIE. This tree has a rather unholy relationship with the spotted lanternfly, a terrible pest!

While we are out removing tree of heaven this year, we will be keeping a close eye out for spotted lantern fly egg masses. Neighboring counties have confirmed this pesky bug, and so we want to be prepared for their eventual arrival. Given the potential that these two species have for damage to native species and biodiversity overall, proactive and coordinated efforts are essential to mitigate the ecological risks posed by tree of heaven and its role in facilitating the spread of the spotted lanternfly.

🐛SPOTTED IN SHAWNEE PARK - Have you ever seen one of these before?

Photo by Mary Anne Fox, Olmsted Parks Conservancy Horticulture Specialist

Nothing livens up a park like the ElderServe, Inc. line dance team! We were thrilled to partner with Elderserve on National Senior Day to celebrate seniors in Russell and beyond. In addition to the dancing, we enjoyed a Tai Chi demonstration, food and community!

See you this evening in Victory Park!

Our last Park Pop Up of the summer is this Wednesday😞

Make sure to stop by the lodge at Victory Park to meet staff from Louisville Parks and Recreation and Louisville Olmsted Parks Conservancy. Enjoy some summer treats, play some yard games, and learn how Olmsted Parks Conservancy restore and enhances the 17 Olmsted-designed parks in Louisville.

📍Victory Park
1051 S 23rd St, 40210

Park Pop Up x Olmsted Parks Conservancy

Tune in!

Louisville Parks and Recreation

Tomorrow (8/28) Louisville Parks and Recreation’s Ben Johnson is interviewing Layla George, President and CEO, Louisville Olmsted Parks Conservancy.

📻Tune into Metro Matters on WLLV (101.9 FM) at 2 p.m. to hear about their upcoming initiatives. Listen online at https://www.wllvonline.com

Guess where we are?

Louisville Parks and Recreation
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

🛶THE FIRST TO PADDLE CHICKASAW POND: Arlene and Nathaniel both live in the neighborhood near Chickasaw Park, but had never met before!

They were first in line at the canoe launch celebrating the completion of the $2.5 million pond restoration and expansion.

What an amazing way to meet a new friend!

Arlene and Nathaniel said they would definitely paddle Chickasaw Pond again and would love to see more events where canoes are provided.

Louisville Parks and Recreation worked with Louisville MSD and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to improve biodiversity and public access at the pond, incorporating the vision of Jefferson Memorial Forest & Natural Areas and Louisville ECHO. Thank you to Wilderness Louisville for helping to bring this incredible paddling event to the park. Special thanks to Deputy Mayor Nicole George and Councilwoman Donna Purvis District 5 for securing funding from the American Rescue Plan for this pond restoration.

Stay tuned for more improvements coming to the Chickasaw Pond area! The infrastructure is complete, and our Team for Healthy Parks will continue their work in natural areas management to improve the beauty and the biodiversity of the area.

Thank you for supporting your parks at the Stansbury Park Beer Garden! It was a beautiful evening to party with Kentucky Select Properties, West Sixth Brewing and thedjrayray! Our next Olmsted Parks Beer Garden takes place Sept. 13 in Tyler Park - mark your calendar!

Please respect the Tyler Park Stage construction site! Someone went inside the fencing last night and walked across the top of the project. This section will now have to be torn up and redone. We don’t want the project to be delayed, but setbacks like this take time and work to remedy.

Tyler Park Neighborhood Association
Friends of Tyler Park

🍃Only $5 at the Stansbury Park Beer Garden tonight: The Olmsted Parks bandana!

This design features a map of Louisville's Olmsted Park System, with the three flagship parks in each corner so you can fold it to show off your favorite.

This Thursday! Join us and Kentucky Select Properties for the Olmsted Parks Beer Garden in Stansbury Park!

🛶Chickasaw Pond CANOE LAUNCH THIS SATURDAY - We are working with Louisville Urban Forestry to get the newly restored Chickasaw Pond ready for a fun family event!

Chickasaw Park Family Canoe Day will celebrate the amazing transformation of the space. Thanks to Louisville ECHO, Louisville Parks and Recreation and Jefferson Memorial Forest & Natural Areas, all equipment will be provided for those who want to be among the first to canoe the expanded and enhanced Chickasaw Pond.

This event is 10 am to 1 pm on August 24.

😱CUE SCARY MUSIC... Have you seen this vine around town?

Porcelain berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata) presents a significant ecological threat and has gained a foothold in natural habitats, disrupting native ecosystems and biodiversity. In Olmsted Parks, it forms dense shrouds that smother native trees and flowers, making it a very unwelcome plant.

Our team works hard in early fall to keep the vine from taking over our natural areas. You can help by cutting this plant in your own yard, by planting native species, or by volunteering with OPC to help us keep our parks healthy and beautiful!

What do you think is the best thing Major has done for our parks?

Story by Kirby Oliver Adams in comments!
📷Michael Clevenger
Courier Journal

CHEROKEE PARK ROAD CLOSURES: The Ironman race is Sunday, August 18. The route goes through Cherokee Park, so expect road closures!

GOATS IN THE PARK? Check out the Courier Journal to find out what they are doing there!

Kentucky State University
Louisville Parks and Recreation

You might say we've got a team of winners.... 🥇

Victory Park Day is a celebration of the California neighborhood that has only gotten better since the Victory Park renovation was completed in 2019! We are proud to support Friends of Victory Park and the California Federation Neighborhood Association, who put on this annual event.

Thank you, Olmsted Network for spotlighting the challenges and triumphs in Chickasaw Park!

As Louisville’s Chickasaw Park recovers from a recent tornado, pledged funding for capital improvements and educational signage soften the blow. The funding includes $50,000 from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, a National Trust for Historic Preservation program dedicated to preserving important sites in Black history. Learn more: https://ow.ly/S0IY50SQ2Im

HELP PLANT TREES IN SENECA PARK: Generous donors will match all donations for Seneca Park trees in August, up to $10,000! See the link in comments to join us in making the park greener.

SPRAYGROUND SPOTLIGHT: There's a new sprayground in town! The recently completed $3 million Elliott Park renovation in Russell includes this wonderful new place for summer fun. Elliott Park is located at 630 S. 28th St. just across the street from ElderServe!

Bruce Whearty always finds beauty in Iroquois Park! He captured this image of a hummingbird visiting the milkweed in Summit Field.

SPRAYGROUND SPOTLIGHT: We have a new one to spotlight! Central Park's new sprayground is complete, and Old Louisville families are loving it! This ADA accessible play space is located on the 6th Street side of the park.

Stansbury Park is the center of Louisville's Olmsted Park System, and we are bringing the Beer Garden series to the heart of it all on August 22!

Thanks to Kentucky Select Properties for making this event possible.
Come for the entertainment by thedjrayray, beer from West Sixth Brewing and food trucks to be announced.

Skaters, bring your skates!

📸IROQUOIS PARK PHOTOGRAPHY HIKE - Many thanks to Iroquois Park expert Buddy Sergesketter for leading a wonderful photography hike!

We have added two photography hikes this year in partnership with Building Equal Bridges INC The Tyler Gerth Foundation to prepare for the Tyler Gerth Memorial Photography Contest! Whether you are shooting with a DSLR or your camera, we welcome your entry.

The next photography hike will be led by Ayrica Bishop, Education Coordinator for Murphy's Camera, on September 21 in Cherokee Park. Register on our website!

DID YOU KNOW? Many Chickasaw Park neighbors remember seeing Muhammad Ali running in the park wearing his 1960 Olympic Gold Medal. His childhood home on Grand Avenue is just over a mile from the park.