Olmsted Parks Conservancy awards Taylor Siefker Williams Design Group
February 14, 2023
LOUISVILLE, KY – February 14, 2023 – Olmsted Parks Conservancy kicks off the first major expansion of Louisville’s Frederick Law Olmsted-designed park system – one of only four such systems in the world. After a competitive procurement process, Olmsted Parks Conservancy selected Taylor Siefker Williams Design Group, a local architecture firm, to lead the Beargrass Preserve Master Plan. The local firm is tasked to develop design concepts that consider an analysis of the land, public feedback, estimated costs, and anticipated maintenance for major park features.
The exciting announcement has many people asking what is next for Beargrass Preserve at Cherokee Park. Collaborating with a firm that practices thoughtful planning and design to enhance the safety and functionality of this green space is top of mind. In keeping with Olmsted Parks Conservancy’s policy of community-informed park planning, Taylor Siefker Williams will also work with Biohabitats, Studio Kremer Architects, Mindel Scott, and Corn Island Archaeology consulting firms to help integrate historic and cultural analysis and ecological processes that protect and restore biodiversity, while imagining a park that will serve the community. Next steps will include:
- Examination of existing conditions, historic character, and physical features to determine opportunities and constraints
- Development of concept layouts for public and stakeholder meetings
- Gathering of feedback to develop a preferred alternative design
- Creation of a working document to track the process, make recommendations and serve as a design guide
Beargrass Preserve at Cherokee Park will grow into a sanctuary for all citizens of Louisville, Kentucky. To forever protect this green space, Olmsted Parks Conservancy put voluntary restrictions on the land to ensure it will be a public park in perpetuity. “We were so fortunate that Norman and Belita Noltemeyer shared this vision of protecting the land and made a significant gift to allow us to purchase the property and protect it forever,” said Layla George, President and CEO of Olmsted Parks Conservancy. “There are very few opportunities to add public green space in our city and to be able to permanently protect and care for this land is a privilege for our organization.”
“We are excited to embark on a process that will reimagine 25-acres into an extension of Cherokee Park, further extending the Olmsted legacy of parkland and preserving open space in our community for generations to come,” said Amin Omidy, ASLA, PLA, Senior Landscape Architect/Project Manager at Taylor Siefker Williams Design Group.
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About Taylor Siefker Williams Design Group
Taylor Siefker Williams Design Group is a landscape architecture, urban design and community planning studio with offices in Louisville, KY and Indianapolis, IN. Their work focuses on creating innovative and visionary public-space and community based projects. Highlights of their services include the planning and design of parks and greenways, comprehensive planning and public placemaking projects. For more information regarding Taylor Siefker Williams Design Group, please visit their website at tswdesigngroup.com.
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