Thursday October 11, 2007

Meeting is Tuesday, October 23, at 5 p.m.
Metro Parks will unveil the final draft of plans for a multi-use path system along approximately 10 miles of Louisville’s Olmsted Parkway system, during a public meeting on October 23, 2007.  The meeting takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. at the South Louisville Community Center, 2911 Taylor Boulevard.  Parking is available in the rear of the community center, entering from 9th Street or Iowa Street.

This is the third and final public meeting for the Olmsted Parkway path project.  Previous meetings have allowed planners to collect input to help them design paved paths that will ultimately provide improved pedestrian and bicycle opportunities along four Olmsted Parkways – Algonquin, Eastern, Southern and Southwestern.

At the meeting, citizens can view illustrations of the preferred corridors for multi-use paths and on-street bicycle lanes on the parkways, along with standards for accompanying site amenities such as lighting and benches.

Additionally, planners have explored ways to link the parkways near the University of Louisville, as the original Frederick Law Olmsted design intended.  This project is part of Mayor Jerry Abramson’s City of Parks initiative to improve and expand Louisville’s parks, and create a 100-mile paved metro loop trail through the city.

The planning project has been supported by Louisville Metro Government, the Olmsted Parks Conservancy and several federal transportation grants.

A web site has been created to keep citizens informed of progress on planning efforts for the Olmsted Parkways Multi-Use Path System project.  To learn more about the project or offer feedback to the project’s planning team, visit www.louisvilleky.gov/MetroParks/cityofparks/projects/olmstedparkwaysproject.htm.  The final draft of the plan will be posted on this web site after the October 23 public meeting.