Louisville Plans 'City Of Parks'

Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson announced a far-reaching "greenprint" for Louisville yesterday, a multi-year vision that includes the addition of at least 2,000 acres of park land in the Floyds Fork watershed.

Thanks to major contributions from Humana Inc. co-founder and chairman David A. Jones, his family and others, a significant portion of the land needed for the expansion already has been acquired. Jones will lead a $20 million fundraising effort to continue buying land. Already known nationally for the majesty of its public parks, Louisville Metro is embarking on a new park land project as ambitious and grand as what came before, Mayor Jerry Abramson said. “A century ago, world-renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted laid out his plans for Louisville’s first park system, a superb network of green spaces linked together by tree-lined parkways that became one of his greatest achievements. Mr. Olmsted’s excellent parks continue to serve as a major asset in our city’s quality of life. Now the time has come for us to revisit that tradition of excellence and extend his great vision to all parts of our community. Residential growth continues strong in the Floyds Fork area. We have a window of opportunity to preserve land there for our children and for generations to come."