Projects

Avidly pursuing our mission to restore, enhance and preserve, Olmsted Parks Conservancy has been working on several major projects this year. None of these would be possible without ongoing contributions to the Conservancy from individuals, foundations, corporations, and Federal grants. From this strong and vigorous platform of support, we are able to fund an incredible array of projects that fulfill Olmsted's vision for our great park system. Here are a few of the projects currently in progress:

Sunnyhill Pavilion

Work on Sunnyhill Pavilion in Iroquois Park is underway! Olmsted Parks Conservancy received a $197,500 grant from Save America’s Treasures for the restoration project. Save America’s Treasures is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Park Service. And in a first-of-its-kind partnership between Jefferson County Public Schools, Metro Parks and Olmsted Parks Conservancy, students from Iroquois High School Magnet Career Academy will help manage the restoration work. Restoration completion is expected Fall 2010.

Iroquois Park Woodlands Restoration

With $235,000 secured by Congressman John Yarmuth, invasive plant removal has started at Iroquois Park. For the next two years, the Conservancy staff will be working on removing such unwanted plants as bush honeysuckle, privet and tree of heaven. If the Conservancy doesn’t stop the growth of invasive species, they will eventually dominate the park, covering and choking the life out of native trees and preventing Kentucky’s native plant species from germinating. Volunteers are a very important part of the removal plan; please volunteer to help by contacting Sarah Wolff.

Trail and Slope Stabilization in Iroquois Park

Storm water runoff can cause erosion which threatens the integrity of the Iroquois Park hills and trails. The Conservancy is developing techniques stabilize eroded slopes and build sustainable trails and preserve these beautiful Iroquois Park features.

Iroquois and Willow Pond Projects

Iroquois Park is the focus of an EPA grant received by the Olmsted Parks Conservancy with the intent of improving water quality. Pond Creek is the receiving stream for Iroquois Pond and is on Kentucky’s list of Impaired Waters as non-supporting of aquatic life and swimming usage. The Iroquois Pond project area includes a detention basin, bioretention cells, bioswales, step pool design, and pervious surfaces in a parking expansion for the Amphitheater. The pervious surfaces are designed to capture and absorb storm water runoff from the parking area. All of these techniques are designed for multiple functions in order to improve the quality of water leaving the parks. Construction for this project started in early November 2009 and should be complete by late winter 2010. After this time the project areas will continue to be monitored for water-quality until early 2013. The monitoring data will enable an assessment of the best management.

Improvements Made at Boone Square

Recent repairs were made to the restroom facilities and picnic shelter thanks to donors of Olmsted Parks Conservancy. And to help spruce up the neighborhood park, Portland Promise Center and UofL volunteers helped mulch trees, picked up litter and painted park structures.

Picnic Shelter Before

Picnic Shelter After

 Chickasaw Picnic Shelter Completed!

Olmsted Parks Conservancy funded repair work to the Chickasaw Park picnic shelter. Repairs include replacement of damaged roof structure, repair and replacement of roof tiles and painting the trim on the roof line. This $8000 project is one of the several maintenance projects approved by Olmsted Parks Conservancy Board of Trustees for 2009. This 61-acre park is one of the 18 parks in the Olmsted park system designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Designed in the late 1920’s. Chickasaw Park has served the neighborhood for almost 90 years and is a popular park for family reunions, clay-court tennis matches, biking and walking.

Bridge Rebuilding Completed

The multi-use path in the Baringer Spring area of Cherokee Park was completed in 1999.  There are four large wooden bridges along this path, three of which span Baringer Spring itself and a fourth, the longest of the bridges, spans Beargrass Creek.  The original Douglas Fir used to create the bridges did not hold up to the rigors of our humid climate resulting in rot and deterioration in some critical areas. 

Olmsted Parks Conservancy and Metro Parks determined Eastern Red Cedar would be a more durable wood for the Louisville climate. In addition, small design modifications are being made to facilitate drainage from the base of the posts and bottom of the pickets thus ensuring a long life span for this new material. Project completion is expected in April.

Shawnee Park Pavilion

The pavilion in Shawnee Park was built almost a century ago, but with an extreme makeover the historical building looks like it did the day it was originally dedicated!

Olmsted Parks Conservancy and Metro Parks joined forces to totally restore the beautiful structure, a $768,000 investment. This project required analysis of the historically correct materials and colors, and hours of very careful removal of layers of lead paint by qualified contractors. The painstaking restoration was important to the historic value of this park but also to the community.

Built around 1920, the building was constructed of stucco and a red tile roof. The openness of the building was a reflection of the Olmstedian principle of “structure is subservient to nature” – that is, the building itself never interrupts one’s view of the beautiful natural surroundings. Nearby are new, fully-accessible restrooms designed to match the pavilion. Together, the pavilion, restrooms and adjoining playground comprises a great family destination spot in Shawnee Park.

We thank Brown-Forman Corporation for their generous donation of $100,000 which helped off set the expense of the renovation.  Take a stroll at Shawnee Park and enjoy a picnic at the newly restored pavilion.

Riverbank Stabilization in Chickasaw Park

 Urbanization of the Ohio River Watershed is causing severe bank erosion in many areas including Chickasaw Park with erosion quite severe in places. Olmsted Parks Conservancy is developing innovative methods to stabilize the shores and restore the once-lovely riverbank in Chickasaw.