SFET ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

THIS WEEK WE TAKE YOU TO THE BELVEDERE.

IT IS PART OF RIVERFRONT PLAZA, AN AREA THAT JETS OUT FROM DOWNTOWN TO OVERLOOK THE OHIO RIVER.

IT OPENED TO MUCH FANFARE IN 1973, AFTER DECADES OF PLANNING AND FUNDING DISCUSSIONS.

THE DESIGN WAS PART OF AN EFFORT TO REVITALIZE LOUISVILLE'S DOWNTOWN BY CONNECTING IT TO THE WATER.

THE BELVEDERE WAS ORIGINALLY A GRASSY, SEVEN-ACRE PARK BUILT ON TOP OF A PARKING GARAGE ON INTERSTATE 64, IT IS THE BEST VIEW IN THE CITY.

BUT NOW, 50 YEARS LATER, IT IS RARELY USED AND IS DESPERATE NEED OF REPAIRS.

THAT'S WHERE LAY LAYLA GEORGE COMES IN, RECENTLY NAMED PROJECT DIRECTOR FOR THE REIMAGINED AND REDESIGNED BEAVERED, SHE IS A LONG TIME PARKS ADVOCATE THAT HAS LED THE OLMSTEAD PARKS CONSERVANCY FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.

SHE SHARES THE VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF THE BELVEDERE.

BUT FIRST CHRISTIE DUTTON TAKES US THROUGH THE PAST.

>> YOU WANT THE REAL BEGINNING?

>> LOUISVILLE HISTORIAN RICK BELL TAKES US WAY BACK ON A WINDY AFTERNOON ON THE BELVEDERE.

THIS IS SQUARE ONE THIS THE TOWN OF LOUISVILLE.

WHEN THE TOWN WAS LAID OUT BY THE CITY FATHERS, THEY DIVIDED THE COMMUNITY INTO SQUARES AND THIS WAS NUMBER ONE.

AND IT'S BECAUSE ON THIS, SOMEWHERE RIGHT IN HERE, WAS A HUGE NATIVE AMERICAN BURIAL GROUNDS.

>> IN THE LATE 1700s, THE CITY HIRED LOUISVILLE'S FIRST HARBOR MASTER.

>> WAS A FELLOW NAMED EVAN WILLIAMS AND THEY HIRED HIM AND PAID HIM $15 TO EXCAVATE THE MOUND.

>> MAKING A ROAD FROM THE RIVER TO MAIN STREET WHERE THE BELVEDERE NOW STANDS.

EVERYBODY WILLIAMS SOON OPENED A DISTILLERY MERGING THE HISTORY OF BOURBON AND THE BELVEDERE.

>> HE IS ALSO THE FIRST LICENSED DISTILLER IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

EVAN WILLIAMS WAS NUMBER ONE.

>> WHERE WAS HIS DISTILLERY.

>> ALMOST DIRECTLY BELOWER WITH WE ARE.

>> AT THE TIME A FEW HOMES DOTTED THE WATERFRONT.

>> THEY LOOKED OUT AT THE RIVER, THEY WERE MANSIONED, GIANT PLACES.

>> IN THE 1800S, THE STEAM BOAT INDUSTRY WAS HEATING UP AND BIG BRINGING BIG BUSINESS IN ITS WAKE.

>> IT WAS COMMERCIALIZED.

LOUISVILLE TURNED ITS BACK TO THE RIVER AND SHOPS AND WAREHOUSES STARTED GOING AND THEY FACED MAIN STREET.

AND LITERALLY YOU COULDN'T GET TO THE RIVER.

>> SO THE VIEW OF LOUISVILLE, FROM THE OHIO RIVER, INCLUDED THE BACKS OF BUILDINGS, LOADING DOCKS AND OTHER BUSINESSES MEANT TO BE HIDDEN FROM DOWNTOWN.

>> REFINE RISE, SAND AND GRAVEL OPERATIONS, IT WAS REFINERIES, SCRAP YARDS, AT NO POINT COULD YOU GET TO THE RIVER.

AFTER THE BOATS, THE TRAINS CAME NEXT.

>> ADDING ANOTHER BARRIER TO THE RIVER.

>> SHORT LINE RAILROAD RAN RIGHT OVER WHERE TODAY THE INTERSTATE IS.

AND WHEN I WAS A KID, THE RAILROAD WAS HERE SO YOU WERE ALWAYS CUT OFF FROM THE RIVER.

>> IN 1930, THE IDEA OF AN ELEVATED PLAZA WAS FIRST ENVISIONED.

>> IT WAS OBVIOUS, PEOPLE WANTED TO COME DOWNTOWN TO THE RIVER AND HAVE ACCESS.

>> THE PROJECT WAS AN UPHILL BATTLE WITH NEARLY 40 YEARS OF SETBACKS BEFORE FINALLY GAINING TRACTION.

>> HARVEY SLOANE WAS MAYOR AND MITCH McCONNELL WAS THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

AND THEY WORKED REALLY WELL TOGETHER.

THEY REFERRED TO LOUISVILLE WAS THE STRATEGIC CITY OF THE 70s.

IT WAS THE PITCH AND YOU SAW BANNERS.

AND I THINK THAT BY SAYING IT, THEY HAD TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT COME TRUE.

>> IN 1969, THE CITY BUILT A PARKING GARAGE DOWNTOWN AT THE RIVER'S EDGE.

>> A HUGE 1600 CAR PARKING GARAGE, AND WE ARE SITTING ON THE ROOF OF THAT.

THE BELVEDERE IS A ROOF.

THAT WAS ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE.

BUT WHO WANTS A BIG OL' FLAT ROOF?

JUST, YOU KNOW,AND SO THEY STARTED LOOKING AT DESIGN IDEAS.

>> THE CITY NEEDED SOMETHING THAT WOULD BRING PEOPLE BACK DOWNTOWN.

>> THERE WAS A POINT IN THE 1960s, NOBODY CAME TO MAIN STREET ANYMORE.

IT WAS GONE.

IT WAS DEAD.

>> RICK BELL SAID THE BELVEDERE, WHICH OPENED IN 1973, CHANGED THAT AND RECONNECTED LOUISVILLE WITH THE RIVER.

>> IT CHANGED THE DIRECTION OF DOWNTOWN MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

THIS IS WHAT BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE RIVER.

LOOK WHAT IS HERE NOW.

NONE OF THESE WERE HERE WHEN THIS WAS ENVISIONED.

WHEN THIS AREA THESE BIG BUILDINGS, NONE OF THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE BELVEDERE.

>> THE NEW PUBLIC SPACE DREW PEOPLE IN WITH FOOD AND MUSIC FESTIVALS, CELEBRATIONS AND CITY EVENTS.

>> BUT WHAT IT DID WAS BRING PEOPLE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS, FROM PLEASURE RIDGE PARK AND FAIR CREEK AND FERNDALE AND WESTPORT GROVE, TO COME DOWNTOWN >> IT FEATURED A FOUNTAIN WITH CIRCULAR STEPPING STONES BELOW AND A WATER GARDEN OR REFLECTING POOL.

>> IT WAS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU SEE TODAY.

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL POOL.

IN THE WINTER IT WOULD FREEZE OVER AND PEOPLE SKATED ON THE POOL.

>> AND THE LATE 1990S, THERE WAS A NECESSARY REDESIGN OF THE BELVEDERE.

IT AIMED TO FIX LEAKS FROM THE BELVEDERE DOWN TO THE PARKING GARAGE BELOW.

IT ALSO GOT RID OF THE REFLECTING POOL, ADDED IN MORE GREEN SPACE AND REDID THE BELVEDERE FOUNTAIN.

>> THESE ARE NICE.

>> THE BELVEDERE CAN BRING UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS, YOU GET THESE HIDDEN PLEASURES, YOU FIND THESE LITTLE TREASURES THROUGHOUT.

>> OF LOUISVILLE?

>> WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE IS THE CITY'S HISTORY.

>> AND OURSELVES.

>> THE RIVER TELLS US WHO WE ARE.

WHAT IS A CITY WITHOUT A BEATING HEART.

AND HE SAW THIS AREA AS THE BEATING HEART.

AND IT IS.

IT IS THE SOUL OF THE CITY.

>> I'M CHRISTIE DUTTON FOR INSIDE "INSIDE LOUISVILLE."

>> LAYLA GEORGE IS THE PROJECT EXECUTIVE FOR THE NEWLY IMAGINED BELVEDERE.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

WE HEARD A LITTLE BIT JUST THERE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE BELVEDERE.

SO EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING BACK AT THAT TIME, WHEN THEY WERE REALLY TRYING TO CONNECT DOWNTOWN WITH THE RIVER, SUCH AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF LOUISVILLE'S HISTORY, AND CONTINUES TO BE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN THE BELVEDERE WAS OPENED IN THE EARLY 70s, ALL OF THE RIVERFRONT PROPERTY WAS REALLY COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL.

AND SO THERE WASN'T A FACE FOR FAMILIES AND THE PUBLIC TO REALLY GET CLOSE TO THE RIVER.

SO IT'S THIS WONDERFUL ELEVATED PLATFORM, WHICH, TODAY, OFFERS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.

WE HAVE THE GREAT WATERFRONT PARKS AND PLACES TO GET DOWN ON THE RIVER, BUT IT'S REALLY NICE TO HAVE THAT ELEVATED OUTLOOK AND PERSPECTIVE THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE BELVEDERE.

>> IT'S SO INTERESTING TO THINK BACK TO THAT TIME.

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE, REALLY, WHAT THE RIVERFRONT WAS LIKE BACK THEN.

>> YES.

VERY INDUSTRIAL AND, YOU KNOW, WATERFRONT PARK HAS A GREAT WEBSITE AND THEY SHOW ALL THE PICTURES OF HOW INDUSTRIAL THEIR SPACE WAS, BUT THE SITE WHERE THE BELVEDERE, YOU CAN SEE THE FALLS OF THE OHIO, THE RIVER, THE BRIDGES AND IT'S REALLY A WONDERFUL VANTAGE POINT THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED SOMETIMES.

IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE A SPACE FOR FAMILIES.

I THINK MAYOR FRANK BURKE DEDICATED IT TO THE CHILDREN OF LOUISVILLE.

AND THERE WAS A LOT OF REALLY WONDERFUL PROGRAMMING BACK IN THE DAY.

SOME OF THAT HAS FALLEN BY THE WAYSIDE.

THE SPACE WAS REALLY DESIGNED FOR PEDESTRIAN USE.

AND BECAUSE OF ALL THE EVENTS, IT GOT DAMAGED WITH HEAVY MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT FOR EVENTS, SO IT'S NOW NOT SUITABLE FOR A LOT OF THINGS.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO HAVE EVENTS THERE BECAUSE OF WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS, THE GARAGE UNDERNEATH LEAKS.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF REPAIR WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE IT REALLY FUNCTIONAL AGAIN AND SO WE DECIDED WHILE WE ARE REDOING THE GARAGE AND FIXING SOME OF THOSE THINGS, WE MIGHT AS WELL REIMAGINE IT INTO SOMETHING REALLY SPECTACULAR FOR THE CITY.

>> SOME OF THESE RENDERINGS ARE REALLY EXCITING.

BUT I WANT TO START A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR HISTORY, TOO.

HOW YOU ENDED UP IN THIS POSITION.

I KNOW FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, YOU HEADED UP THE OLMSTEAD PARKS.

>> YEAH, YES.

>> AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND HOW THAT HAS TRANSLATED INTO THIS POSITION.

>> SURE, I WAS PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF OLMSTEAD PARKS CONSERVANCY FOR SEVEN YEARS.

I STEPPED DOWN AT THE END OF JANUARY.

AND I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT I ACCOMPLISHED.

I TRIPLED PUBLIC FUNDING, INCREASED ANNUAL OPERATING REVENUE, 250%, EXPANDED THE STAFF, DIVERSIFIED THE BOARD AND WAS ABLE TO ACQUIRE 25 ACRES TO EXPAND THE OLMSTEAD PARK SYSTEM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 100 YEARS WITH A REALLY GENEROUS GIFT FROM THE NOTLTAMIRE FAMILY.

I LOVED BEING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND SEEING THE PEOPLE WHO USED OUR PARKS AND ENSURING THAT THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE MADE SUPPORTED THE WAYS THAT PEOPLE WANTED TO USE THOSE SPACES.

OLMSTEAD PARKS AND ALL NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS FEEL VERY PERSONAL TO PEOPLE.

IF YOU LIVE IN TYLER PARK, TYLER PARK IS YOUR PARK.

THERE IS A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP.

AND WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THE BELVEDERE IS THAT IT'S A DOWNTOWN PARK WHICH MAKES IT NO ONE'S PARK, BUT EVERYONE'S PARK.

SO IT'S REALLY DESIGNING A SPACE THAT MEETS THE NEEDS FROM PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH END TO THE WEST END TO THE EAST END, AND ALL AROUND THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO THAT'S REALLY BEEN FUN TO KIND OF GET OUT AND SEE THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING ON SITE AND IMAGINE THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO PROGRAM IT TO REALLY ACTIVATE THE SPACE.

>> I READ, TOO, HOW YOU REALLY TOOK FREDERICK LAW OLMSTEAD'S MISSION TO HEART AND HOW IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO YOU.

I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE REALIZE HOW SPECIAL LOUISVILLE IS TO HAVE OLMSTEAD PARKS.

>> YEAH, IT'S REALLY UNIQUE.

WE ARE ONE OF FOUR PARK SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY, DESIGNED BY FREDERICK LAW OLMSTEAD AND CERTAINLY THE LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE.

AND OLMSTEAD HAD THIS VISION OF PARKS AS A PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE, A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO ESCAPE TO FOR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL RESTORATION, WHICH I THINK WE SAW IN TATES CREEK ROAD WAS KIND OF-- IN COVID WAS THEY PIT AT THIS OF HIS VISION AND REALLY FORWARD THINKING.

HE THOUGHT PARKS WERE A WAY TO BUILD DEMOCRACY.

HE WAS DESIGNING CENTRAL PARK AT KIND OF THE BEGINNING OF THE CIVIL WAR, AND SO HE SAW THE COUNTRY LITERALLY DIVIDED AND THOUGHT THAT PARKS WERE A SPACE TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND BRIDGE THOSE DIVIDES.

>> AND DO YOU THINK THAT MISSION, OBVIOUSLY IN SO MANY WAYS TRANSLATES TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY?

>> I THINK IT DOES.

AND IT'S INTERESTING LOOKING AT THE BELVEDERE BECAUSE THE BELVEDERE REALLY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE THE CIVIC HEART OF THE CITY.

AND YOU WANT TO DESIGN A SPACE THAT IS NICE ENOUGH SO THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE MEANS TO GO ELSEWHERE FOR RECREATION OR ENTERTAINMENT STILL WANT TO COME TO THE BELVEDERE BECAUSE IT'S SO NICE.

BUT YOU WANT IT TO BE WELCOMING SO THAT PEOPLE WHO DO HAVE MORE LIMITED POSSIBILITIES FEEL EQUALLY AT HOME IN THAT SPACE.

AND THAT BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, I THINK, IS WHAT BUILDS AND STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES.

>> AND IMPORTANT TO HELP PUT A FOCUS BACK ON DOWNTOWN, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY STILL STRUGGLING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK A SPACE LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO FOR DOWNTOWN?

>> I THINK IT CAN TOTALLY INJECT IT WITH VIBRANCY AND ACTIVITY THAT IT DESPERATELY NEEDS RIGHT NOW.

THERE IS NOT AS MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME BACK TO WORK MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY DOWNTOWN.

WE ALL KNOW THAT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WILL EVER GET BACK TO THOSE LEVELS.

THE WORKFORCE HAS JUST CHANGED.

AND SO I THINK HAVE YOU TO MAKE DOWNTOWN A PLACE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO FOR REASONS OTHER THAN A 9 TO 5 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY JOB.

HAVING A TON OF EVENTS AT THE BELVEDERE WILL BE REALLY IMPORTANT, WHETHER IT'S MUSIC EVENTS ON A REGULAR BASIS, FARMERS MARKET, FAMILY MOVIE NIGHTS, YOGA, I MEAN THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS.

BUT I THINK IT HAS A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO BE KIND OF A CONNECTION HUB.

SO IF WE THINK OF PEOPLE COMING DOWNTOWN, ALL ALONG THE RIVER THERE IS PARKING GARAGES BECAUSE IT FLOODS.

SO IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO PUT A PARKING GARAGE.

SO UNDERNEATH THE BELVEDERE IS A 2,000 CAR GARAGE.

PEOPLE CAN GET THERE EASILY, COME UP, RENT A SCOOTER, BIKE, ENJOY THE SPACE AT THE BELVEDERE AND GET TO THE AMENITIES DOWNTOWN.

>> SO RIGHT NOW, IT IS A PUBLIC SPACE.

IT'S VERY WELL LANDSCAPED AND MANICURED.

IT LOOKS REALLY NICE.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS NEW DESIGN AND HOW THIS DESIGN CAME ABOUT, DESIGNED FROM LONDON WAS CHOSEN.

>> YES.

>> TO COME UP WITH THIS REALLY BOLD AND DRAMATIC DESIGN.

>> IT'S A COMPLETELY NEW LOOK.

>> IT'S A TOTAL TRANSFORMATION.

THERE NO, SIR QUESTION.

IT IS A BIG, BOLD VISION THAT LOUISVILLE HAS NEVER SEEN AND FEW PLACES IN THE COUNTRY HAVE REALLY SEEN ANYTHING AS SPECTACULAR AS THIS DESIGN.

PROBABLY ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO OR SO, K. NORMAN BERRY ARCHITECTS HERE LOCALLY SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL AND THEY PARTNERED WITH HEATHERWICKS STUDIOS OUT OF LONDON AS THE DESIGNERS, THE TWO FIRMS WORKED TOGETHER ON THIS AND THE PLAN REALLY REMINDS ME A LOT OF LITTLE ISLAND IN NEW YORK CITY, WHICH IS ONE OF HEATHER WICKS MOST FAMOUS U.S.

PROJECTS.

IT IS THIS ROLLING GREEN LANDSCAPE THAT YOU CAN BE WITHIN IT.

YOU CAN BE ON TOP OF IT.

YOU CAN BE UNDERNEATH IT.

IT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT MODEL OF ARCHITECTURE THAT WE HAVE NEVER SEEN.

THE IMAGES THAT WERE FIRST RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC, I THINK WERE-- IT WAS HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT EVEN WAS, RIGHT?

WE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

AND UNLESS YOU SAW SOME OF THEIR OTHER SPACES, I MEAN SOME OF THEM LOOK LIKE A.I.

GENERATED.

I LOOK AT IT AND THINK THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

YOU CAN'T BUILD SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT THEY HAVE.

AND IT'S WILDLY SUCCESSFUL.

I MEAN IT'S A VERY PLAYFUL EXPLORATORY, VERY GREEN DESIGN.

SO IT WILL OFFER SPACE HAVE VISTAS AND VIEWPOINTS TO TAKE IN THE VIEW OF THE RIVER AND THE PARK AREA THAT IS OVER THE GARAGE CURRENTLY IS WHERE WE WILL HAVE MORE OF A PARK EXPERIENCE.

SO THERE WILL BE AREAS OF ACTIVATION FOR PLAY, WATER FEATURES, WE WOULD LOVE SOME PUBLIC ART IN THIS SPACE.

AN AREA WITH A LITTLE MORE HARD SCAPE FOR FARMERS MARKETS AND FOOD TRUCKS.

WE REALLY WANT A LOT OF ACTIVITY AND A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY IN HOW WE PROGRAM THE SPACE.

>> IT IS SO DIFFERENT FROM ANYTHING SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE SEEN.

I KNOW YOU HAVE HEARD A LOT OF OPINIONS.

PEOPLE LOVE IT.

PEOPLE HATE IT.

I'M SURE YOU HAVE HEARD IT ALL.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS.

TALK ABOUT THAT RECEPTION AND WHAT YOU ARE HEARING FROM PEOPLE AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE COMMENTS?

HOW ARE THEY BEING USED IN THIS DESIGN PROCESS?

>> WELL, I GET ALL OF THEM.

SO IF YOU GO TO THE MAYOR'S WEBSITE, IF YOU GO TO THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE'S WEBSITE, THE MAYOR HAS A PAGE ON REIMAGINING THE BELVEDERE.

THERE IS A LINK TO A SURVEY.

AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE IT.

BUT I GET ALL OF THAT FEEDBACK.

AND A LOT OF IT IS HOW THE SPACE WILL BE PROGRAMMED, HOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET THERE.

SOME PEOPLE LOVE THE DESIGN.

SOME PEOPLE HATE THE DESIGN.

WE KNOW WE ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY, RIGHT?

I MEAN THAT IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO I'M MUCH MORE FOCUSED ON ACTIVITY AND CONNECTIVITY.

I WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU ARE GOING TO GET THERE.

WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE WHILE YOU ARE THERE.

THAT'S THE KIND OF FEEDBACK I'M REALLY LOOKING FOR.

WE DID HAVE THREE COMMUNITY MEETINGS.

WE WILL SCHEDULE MORE IN THE FUTURE.

AT THIS PHASE I'M REACHING OUT TO A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I KNOW HAVE A STAKE IN IT.

THE DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION, DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, DIFFERENT COMPANIES WHO ARE AROUND THE AREA, OBVIOUSLY OUR NEIGHBORS LIKE AMERICAN LIFE BUILDING AND THE GAULT HOUSE AND SPACES LIKE THAT DOWNTOWN.

BUT ALSO PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE THE SURVEY, REACH OUT.

I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO COME VISIT ANYONE.

I'M PRESENTING ALL THE TIME AND WOULD LOVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO SO.

>> AND THEN ONCE YOU HEAR THAT FEEDBACK, HOW MUCH WILL THE DESIGN CHANGE ACCORDING TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING?

OR WILL IT?

>> YEAH, I MEAN I THINK SOME OF IT IS WHAT KINDS OF THINGS DO YOU WANT TO SEE?

DO YOU WANT MORE GREEN SPACE?

DO YOU WANT MORE SHADE?

DO YOU WANT AREAS TO EAT LUNCH?

DO YOU WANT WATER FEATURES, LIKE WHAT ARE THE TOP THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO SEE THERE.

AND THEN WHAT ARE THE TOP THINGS YOU WANT TO DO THERE?

FARMERS MARKETS, ARTS PROGRAMMING, THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THAT REALLY DOES SHAPE THE DESIGN.

CERTAINLY OF THE PARK SPACE.

SO THE SPACE ABOVE THE GARAGE WE ARE CALLING THE PARK AREA AND THAT'S ABOUT FOUR ACRES, WHICH IS A GOOD SIZED PARK.

THINGS WE ARE LOOKING AT NOW IS AN OUTDOOR SCREEN SO THAT WE CAN SHOW MOVIES.

WE CAN DO SPORTS EVENTS.

WE CAN DO THE DERBY AND HAVE MUSIC ACCOMPANYING THAT EVENT.

WE CAN LIVE BROADCAST WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR THE ARTS TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY FOR ARTS PROGRAMMING, WHICH IS SOMETHING THEY'RE INTERESTED IN DOING AS WELL.

SO IT IS-- SOME OF THE THAT IS VERY FLUID AT THIS STAGE AND IT'S A GREAT TIME TO GIVE FEEDBACK.

WE ARE THROUGH CONCEPT DESIGN RIGHT NOW SO THE WHOLE PROCESS.

YOU HAVE CONCEPT DESIGNS, WE ARE KIND OF TAKING A BREAK NOW AND GETTING PRICING, GETTING BALL PARK PRICING ON HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST.

WE ARE PRETTY CERTAIN WHAT IS CURRENTLY DESIGNED IS MORE THAN THE AMOUNT WE ARE COMFORTABLE SPENDING.

SO THEN THERE WILL HAVE TO BE SOME MODIFICATIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS.

FROM THERE WE GO INTO SCHEMATIC DESIGN AND THEN WE GO INTO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS.

SO IT'S A LONG PROCESS.

AND WE ARE KIND OF RIGHT NEAR THE BEGINNING OF THAT.

BUT TAKING PUBLIC FEEDBACK AND INPUT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF THE PROJECT.

>> YEAH, SO NOW IS THE TIME TO REALLY VOICE YOUR OPINION.

>> YES, YES.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE COST.

>> YES.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FUNDING OF A PROJECT OF THIS SCOPE.

>> YES.

>> THE STATE HAS ALLOCATED $100 MILLION TO DOWNTOWN PROJECTS.

THIS IS GOING TO BE PART OF THAT.

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE PART OF IT.

>> THEN THE CITY HAS PLEDGED $10 MILLION IN BOND REVENUE THAT IS GOING TO GO TOWARDS THIS.

THAT'S CANED OF WHERE WE ARE WITH PUBLIC FUNDING, CORRECT?

>> YES.

>> AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

>> THE MAYOR IS IN WASHINGTON D.C.

THIS WEEK.

HE IS ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR SOME PROJECTS IN LOUISVILLE, INCLUDING THE BELVEDERE.

WE THINK THERE IS SOME FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION DOLLARS THAT MIGHT BE APPLICABLE TO THIS PROJECT.

IT IS CONNECTING DOWNTOWN BACK TO THE RIVER HAVE I YAT BELVEDERE AND NEW RAMPS ON THE RIVERSIDE THAT WILL BETTER CONNECT IT TO THE IMPROVED RIVER ROAD MULTIMODAL PATH, TO WATERFRONT PARK IN EITHER DIRECTION, DOWN TO THE WHARF, SO REALLY IMPROVING THOSE CONNECTIONS IN ALL DIRECTIONS, I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT CAN APPEAL TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND MAYBE BE A GOOD FIT FOR SOME OF THOSE TRANSPORTATION BILLS.

>> AND THEN THERE IS A PRIVATE SIDE.

>> SO THEN THERE WILL BE PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY.

CORPORATIONS, FOUNDATIONS, INDIVIDUALS, WE THINK WILL WANT TO BE PART OF THIS PROJECT AND THE ONGOING FUNDING.

WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

WHAT DECISIONS WE MAKE NOW, WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FROM AN EARNED REVENUE MODEL.

WE HAVE A RESTAURANT VERSUS FOOD TRUCKS OR A COMBINATION, WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL EARNED REVENUE THAT WE CAN GENERATE SO THAT KECK GUARANTEE TO MAINTAIN THE SPACE.

AS SOMEONE WHO CAME FROM THE PARKS WORLD, AND ANYONE WHO VISITS OUR PARKS AND USES THEM, YOU KNOW DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IS A HUGE ISSUE IN OUR PUBLIC SPACES.

ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THAT'S KNOWN.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE ARE BUILDING THIS BEAUTIFUL THING, WE CAN GUARANTEE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF IT AND MAINTAIN IT.

>> SURE, AND IT IS PART, YOU MENTIONED, TOO, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT AREA, WATERFRONT PARK IS BEING CHANGED AND THEN THEY JUST ANNOUNCED SOME CHANGES TO THE LOUISVILLE LOOP THAT IS GOING UNDERNEATH THE BELVEDERE.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW ALL OF DOWNTOWN IS REALLY A PART OF A PROJECT LIKE THIS.

EVERYTHING IS BEING REIMAGINED IN A WAY.

>> IT IS.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE PARTS OF THE JOB I FIND MOST INTERESTING IS CONTINUING TO ENGAGE WITH DIFFERENT METRO AGENCIES, PUBLIC WORKS, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND REALLY LOOKING AT WHAT ARE THOSE CONNECTIONS DOWNTOWN AND HOW CAN THE BELVEDERE REALLY ENSURE THAT WE ARE CONNECTED TO FOURTH STREET WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT CORRIDOR.

NINTH STREET WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT ONE, MAIN OBVIOUSLY, BROADWAY HAS PLANS TO BE REIMAGINED.

SO I REALLY WANT THE BELVEDERE TO REALLY ALMOST BE A TRANSPARENCY HUB AS WELL SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GET THERE AND IT'S A LAUNCHING POINT TO ALL THESE WONDERFUL ASSETS WE HAVE IN THE CITY.

BUT ON TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A GOOD CONNECTION TO FOURTH AND NINTH AND TO MAIN AND SO ON.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT IN THAT SCOPE, IT'S VERY DAUNTING.

IT'S A LOT GOING ON.

TALK ABOUT THE TIMELINE.

WHAT ARE-- WHEN ARE WE GOING TO SEE THIS?

WHEN IS IT GOING TO BE FINISHED.

>> WHEN IS IT GOING TO BE FINISHED?

>> WE ARE TARGETING NOVEMBER 2026 FOR GROUNDBREAKING.

AS I MENTIONED, THERE IS A LOT OF FOUNDATIONAL WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, SO REALLY WHAT IS OVER THE GARAGE WILL KIND OF BE SCRAPED.

THEY'RE GOING TO REPAIR SOME OF THE CONCRETE THAT'S BEEN DAMAGED FROM EQUIPMENT OVER THE YEARS.

THEY'RE GOING TO REWATER WATERPROOF EVERYTHING, PUT IN A BETTER DRAINAGE SYSTEM AND THEN COME BACK AND BUILD ON TOP OF THAT.

THE CAP THAT'S OVER THE EXX-RAY EXPRESSWAY WILL NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE PUT OVER IT TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF A NEW STRUCTURE THERE SO THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO DO THAT.

WE'LL GET STARTED ON THAT NEXT FALL.

AND THEN THE MAYOR WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE WHOLE THING FINISHED IN FIVE YEARS.

SO IT'S AMBITIOUS.

SOME DAYS I THINK IT'S TOTALLY UNREALISTIC.

THAT CAN NEVER HAPPEN AND OTHER DAYS I THINK, OH WE GOT THAT.

THAT'S A PIECE OF CAKE.

SO DEPENDS-- IT DEPENDS ON WHAT MOOD I'M IN AND HOW YOU CATCH ME BUT I THINK IT'S VERY DOABLE.

>> WOW, FIVE YEARS.

>> AND IT'S A BIG PRIORITY OF THE MAYOR'S.

HE REALLY SEES THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN.

I MEAN HE IS LASER FOCUSED ON DOWNTOWN BECAUSE IT'S THE ECONOMIC HEART OF THE CITY AS WELL, RIGHT?

I MEAN THE REVENUE THAT'S GENERATED DOWNTOWN FUNDS EVERYTHING IN THE REST OF THE COUNTY AND CITY AND I THINK THAT'S WHY THIS PROJECT HAS GOTTEN SUPPORT FROM A LOT OF THOSE REPRESENTATIVES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE FURTHER OUT IN THE CITY BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE THAT REALITY.

IT'S THE SAME REASON HE HAS GOTTEN A REALLY WARM RECEPTION IN THE STATE, BECAUSE LOUISVILLE IS THE ECONOMIC DRIVER AND ENGINE OF THE STATE REVENUE.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IN DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE REALLY AFFECTS THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYBODY IN THE CITY AND THE STATE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S WAY WAS GOING TO SAY, TOO.

WE'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, DOWNTOWN SOUNDS LIKE A PRIORITY FOR LOUISVILLE, BUT IT REALLY-- YOU KNOW, ITS SUCCESS REVERBERATES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO LET'S PRETEND WE ARE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW AND EVERYTHING IS MOVING, MAYBE FINISHED.

WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR HOW THIS LOOKS OR PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT VISITING THERE?

WHAT IS YOUR GOAL?

>> I WANT AS MANY PEOPLE FROM AS MANY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS TO VISIT IT.

SO THAT MEANS SENIORS HAVING IT AS A NICE ACCEPTABLE ACCESSIBLE SPACE WHERE THEY CAN WALK, PLENTY OF SEATING, PLENTY OF FLAT SPACES, PLENTY OF SHADE.

I WANT IT TO BE A SPACE WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME.

TEENAGERS ARE SHUNNED FROM A LOT OF PUBLIC SPACES THESE DAYS.

AND SO LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH GROUPS OF TEENAGERS TO GET THEIR INPUT.

THE WAY I SEE IT USED MOST NOW IS PEOPLE WHO WORK DOWNTOWN AND MAYBE SIT OUT THERE AT LUNCH, WALK AROUND DURING LUNCH.

I SEE A LOT OF SCOOTERS SO I THINK THE TOURISTS ARE GOING DOWN THAT ROAD.

SO I THINK A SPACE WHERE IT'S ACTIVE WITH YOGA, FARMERS MARKETS, YOU KNOW, OTHER EXERCISE CLASSES, MUSIC EVENTS, A LOT OF REGULAR RELIABLE CONSISTENT PROGRAMMING AS WELL AS A SPACE FOR SOME REALLY SPECIAL EVENTS LIKE THUNDER, FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS.

IT'S A GREAT VANTAGE POINT FOR SOME OF THOSE FUN ACTIVITIES.

>> YEAH.

>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE LOTS OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVATING THE SPACE AS WELL.

WE ARE TALKING WITH ALL THE PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS, A LOT OF THE MUSEUMS THAT ARE ON WEST MAIN, HOW CAN THEY HELP USE THE SPACE?

WHAT DO THEY NEED IN ORDER TO DO THAT?

SO WE ARE MEETING WITH THEM NOW.

WHAT KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE DO YOU NEED FROM ELECTRICITY AND LIGHTING AND WATER AND HOW CAN WE REALLY MAKE THIS A SPACE THAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE AND EMPOWERED TO USE AND ACTIVATE AS WELL?

>> AND SO NOW, LET'S JUMP AHEAD 50 YEARS FROM NOW WHEN PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT REDOING THE BELVEDERE AS WE ARE 50 YEARS NOW FROM THE START OF IT, AS THEY LOOK BACK ON THE DECISION TO CHANGE THIS AREA DRAMATICALLY, OBVIOUSLY YOU HOPE IT'S A SUCCESS.

>> YES.

AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE HISTORY LOOKS BACK ON THIS TIME AS BEING?

>> I THINK THAT THE DESIGN IS SO RADICAL AND TRANSFORMED FOR THIS SPACE AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL LAST.

I MEAN YOU LOOK AT ST. LOUIS AND THE ARCH AND YOU LOOK AT PARIS AND THE EIFFEL TOWER AND SOME OF THE CITIES THAT HAVE THESE ICONIC MONUMENTS AND BUILDINGS AND FEATURES AND I THINK THAT THIS REALLY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE THAT ICONIC SPACE IN LOUISVILLE, SO THAT'S MY HOPE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> YOU CAN SEE AND SHARE THOSE RENDERINGS OF THE NEW DESIGN PROPOSALS FOR THE BELVEDERE.

WE HAVE SHARED THEM ON INSTAGRAM.

YOU CAN FOLLOW US AT KET IN LOU AND YOU CAN WATCH AND SHARE THIS EPISODE ANY TIME.

IT'S ONLINE AT KET.ORG/"INSIDE LOUISVILLE."

THANKS FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE.

I HOPE TO SEE YOU HERE AGAIN NEXT TIME.

UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪