Louisville City Wire

The bulldozers are out and fencing is up around the one-acre pond in Chickasaw Park as work begins on a major project that will improve water quality, fishing opportunities and add canoe and kayak access.

Funded with $2.5 million from the American Rescue Plan, the project is expected to be completed in late 2023 or early 2024. “We are thrilled this transformative project is underway and can’t wait to see it completed,” said Mayor Craig Greenberg. “I’m really looking forward to coming back here once it’s done and seeing all the fun and smiling faces of people enjoying the pond.”  

The project has been planned for several years. An extensive public input process led by Louisville Parks and Recreation’s Natural Areas Division staff took place during 2019-2020, and architecture firm Luckett & Farley proposed a design plan in spring 2020. Contractors with Riverside Paving have begun setting up erosion control measures and draining the pond.

The project includes renovations to the pond, a canoe and kayak launch, new walking paths and benches, lighting, renovations to the parking lot adjacent to the lodge, and a butterfly garden and pollinator meadow funded by the Olmsted Parks Conservancy.

A newly renovated pond is a key component of the West Louisville Outdoor Recreation Initiative (WLORI) promoted by the nonprofit Wilderness Louisville, which supports Jefferson Memorial Forest and Louisville ECHO (Engaging Children Outdoors). Additional work under WLORI includes a new boat ramp, bicycle pump track and trails at Shawnee Park as well as the renovations to the Chickasaw pond.

“I’m excited about the updates coming to our neighborhood park!” said Councilwoman Donna Purvis, District 5.

Original source can be found here.